Food is on the agenda at a number of events at this year’s labour party conference. Here is one of them.

We took part in an event hosted by PLMR in association with the The Vegan Society – Let Food Be Thy Medicine. Tanya Haffner, our CEO and founder, felt honoured to share the stage with Anna Taylor, Executive Director, The Food Foundation, Claire Ogley, Head of Campaigns, Policy and Research, The Vegan Society, Dr Simon Opher, MP, Simon Darby, Head of Public Affairs, PLMR and Jim Bligh, Director of Corporate Affairs and Packaging, Food and Drink Federation.

So why should and how can the government take advantage of the opportunity presented by diet change to deliver a preventative health revolution?  Here are some of the highlights:

Why address the issue of diet change?

• Health: Our nation is suffering and dying from preventable diseases where unhealthy diets post a greater risk to morbidity (years living with disability) and mortality than unsafe sex, alcohol, drug and tobacco use combined. The least deprived are the most disadvantaged.

• Planet: At the same time the way we are eating is contributing to climate and ecological breakdown. Food is a major contributor and it is hardly recognised. It contributes to 1/3 of GHG emissions and is damaging all other planetary boundaries. The very systems we are using to nourish us are being damaged by our food system and as a consequence so too is our food security.

• Economics: we have a sick workforce. 2.8 million people are economically inactive because of long term sickness: it’s not sustainable. Recommendations by Henry Dimbleby in the National Food Strategy proposed 2021 focused on 4 dietary shifts towards a more plant based diet ( 30% increase in Fruit and Veg, 50% increase in fibre, 25% reduction in HFSS foods, 30% reduction in meat). When modelled against the Global Burden of Disease data if achieved these would see a 10% reduction in deaths and Years Living with Disability related to dietary risk factors. Yet, successive governments have overlooked the transformative potential of promoting a shift towards healthier plant-based diets in favour of encouraging “personal responsibility” when it comes to diet.

What has the Vegan Society’s recent research shown about the scale of the possible opportunity by plant-based diets?

• The vegan society’s recent research in partnership with the Office for Health Economics has for the first time put a figure on this opportunity cost and estimated that for every million people who take up a plant-based diet in England, this could unlock savings of £121 million for spending in our NHS from reduced spending on preventable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The scale of the opportunity is enormous. Link to the research is here

But are the benefits of healthy diets better understood than previously by health professionals?

• Treatment focused care is excellent. But there are lost opportunities for identifying early development of disease and modifiable risk factors such as diet which could unburden the NHS disease care system.

• Dietitians and nutritionists – plant-based sustainable diets knowledge and application is poor – training has only recently been added to pre-registration training. Yet, post registration dietitians are being called upon to help deliver on net zero targets are on catch up with knowledge confidence and application. MyNutriWeb training and tools supported by the British Dietetic Association and Association for Nutrition are helping to plug this gap. But dietitians and nutritionists often lack funding and time for training.

• Doctors, nurses and other health professionals receive little training – doctors as little as 1 hr in medical schools and lack knowledge confidence and useful trusted tools to support recommend and sign post in first line treatment. A huge opportunity to catalyse change is being lost.

• A joined up strategy to create a nourished healthcare culture that can help unburden the disease care system is needed which can include:
  • More social prescribing.
  • More dietitians.
  • An NHS prescribed personalised prevention opportunities linked into the NHS app using digital tech may help to revolutionise this kind of preventative care.
  • Plant-based by default strategies and campaigns such as those in New York City hospitals now being piloted in the UK can also contribute. A plant-based by default menu in healthcare is now being called upon by leading health professionals and organisations which outs plants first but doesn’t take away choice.

• Nutrition societies and health professionals are working with and being influenced by the food industry – but higher standards are needed to align with healthy and sustainable diets and to avoid green and health washing seen in recent years.

What has industry been doing to drive health improvements and how can they further work with government?

• Industry has focused and invested heavily in product reformulation and better labelling and will continue to do so.

• A number of players are undertaking public reporting of healthy and unhealthy sales.

• But industry needs more policy levers to create a level playing field for further change.

What policy changes will be needed by government, the health services, industry and individuals?

Many of the calls to action in the Food Foundations Election 24 Nourishing the Nation Manifesto were highlighted

• Making healthy and sustainable food affordable

• Stopping the junk food escalation

• Investing in children diets

• Making it easier to eat sustainably

• Creating a food bill for England

• Improving transparency by introducing mandatory public reporting by the food business

• Investing in and supporting innovation and R&D across the food and agriculture sector

Improving transparency by introducing mandatory public reporting of advertising was also highlighted when a 1/3 of advertising spend on food and drink goes towards confectionary, snacks, desserts and soft drinks compared to just 1% on fruit and vegetables.

Why are policy makers reluctant to talk about diet, especially plant-based diets?

• Subsidies that facilitate the production of cheap meat are not helping

• Farmers are trapped in a system that drives this and need more support to deliver on food provision centered around horticulture

• People need to be reassured and supported to transition and learn how to afford, access and go plant based

Embracing policy and funding action on diet change including the support for the NHS to be a champion of health, especially towards plant-based diets, is crucial for improving the nation’s health, protecting the planet, and strengthening the economy. What are your thoughts on the role of plant-based diets in creating a healthier future? Let us know in the comments below!