The UK government’s Department of Health and Social Care had planned to encourage retailers to shift the balance of price promotions towards “minimally processed foods” – which includes fruit, vegetables, beans, whole grains like rice and pasta, and unprocessed meat.
But emails obtained by the Soil Association via the Freedom of Information Act show the UK government retracting from its plans to back minimally processed foods after months of persistent lobbying by the food manufacturing sector. They demanded this advice was removed from the guidance issued to retailers, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that minimally processed and whole foods are crucial for a healthy diet.
You can sign the Soil Association’s petition calling for the UK government’s Food Strategy to resist the influence of the ultra-processed food industry and make it easy for everyone to enjoy a minimally processed diet.