Call to Action – joint call for robust food governance in Scotland

6 years on from the publication of the Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan in 2018, implementation of key actions to improve Scotland's population health have been stalled. Additionally, a move towards increasing commercial actor engagement in the development of public health policy is a cause for concern. 

Following on from the recommendations in the House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee report ‘Recipe for health: A plan to fix our broken food system’, OAS has coordinated a joint letter with partner and civil society organisations to the Scottish Government. The letter calls for action and sets out how the recommendations of the report can be taken forward in Scotland to address the growing gaps in the governance of food. 

The key policy recommendations for Scotland highlighted are: 

1. Safeguard food policy development from commercial interests 

2. All activities under the Out of Home Action Plan for Scotland need to be mandatory   

3. Strengthen cross-departmental working and embed dietary goals in the Good Food Nation delivery   

The signatories to this letter urge the Scottish Government to now take bold and urgent policy action to improve population weight outcomes and create a healthier environment for all.  

Read the full Joint Call for Robust Food Governance in Scotland here.