The Whole Truth campaign calls for action from Welsh Government
The Whole Truth campaign calls for action from Welsh Government
Since we launched our campaign on 17th May with a splash in the Guardian, nearly 20,000 people have signed our petition calling on the UK government to resist the influence of the ultra-processed food industry and make minimally processed food accessible to all.
Our campaign exposed how the ultra-processed food industry had blocked government attempts to push shops to promote deals on healthy foods and we’ve really felt the weight of your support and outrage as we revealed this shocking news.
Our letter to the Deputy First Minister
This week, we’ve written to Deputy First Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, urging him to also act with haste to enable the increased consumption of whole and minimally processed foods in Wales, given that - as agreed by all Senedd Members - “the dominance of ultra-processed food in our diets has devastating consequences for the health, wealth and well-being of our nation”.
Signed by leading food and health voices from across Wales, including Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Derek Walker, the letter calls on the Deputy First Minister, who is also Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, to harness the review of the Healthy Eating in Schools regulations, extend universal free school meals to secondary schools, starting with extended eligibility, increase support for breastfeeding women and accelerate support for community food and small-scale horticulture to ensure everyone – especially infants and children, and those from vulnerable and marginalised communities – can enjoy a diet based on more whole and minimally processed food.
Welsh Government should help children enjoy a healthy relationship with food
Wales is the first and only UK nation to have implemented universal free school meals in all primary schools but the review of the Healthy Eating in Schools regulations should result in a requirement that school meals be predominantly whole or minimally processed. There is also a clear case to extend Universal Free School Meals to secondary schools, starting with extended eligibility. If we stop providing free school meals after primary school, we risk undoing all the good work done to build healthy eating habits in younger children.
Furthermore, schools should be mandated and supported to implement a whole school approach to good food, building on the models developed by the Soil Association’s Food for Life programme, Nutrition Skills for Life and the 'Food and Fun’ School Holiday Enrichment Programme. These and regional projects across Wales are already helping children in Welsh schools to enjoy a healthy relationship with eating, and an appreciation for the tastes and textures of real foods.
Welsh Government can learn from the Sustainable Food Places Network
Welsh Government should deliver its Community Food Strategy commitment to invest in local food strategies and infrastructure, learning from the Sustainable Food Places network, to support food hubs and other local solutions to scale.
Nutrition Skills for Life is a programme of nutrition training for community workers and community nutrition interventions that aims to build community and organisational capacity to support healthy and sustainable diets. Other interventions such as public diners (state-supported, affordable restaurants serving freshly prepared meals) could also help make minimally processed food more accessible and convenient.
The production and consumption of Welsh fruit and veg must be sustained and strengthened
Welsh Veg in Schools, coordinated by Food Sense Wales, has worked with growers across three local authority areas to get locally produced organic veg into school meals.
Food Vale, a partnership of individuals, community groups, organisations and businesses in the Vale of Glamorgan working together to build a thriving, healthy, sustainable food system. The partnership supports Oak Field Primary School’s “pay as you feel” food shop, which is widely used by the community and helps children how to make healthy food choices and learn new skills. It also supports local producers to make an income from growing food which is sold locally.
The Sustainable Farming Scheme must also support Welsh horticulture
The Sustainable Farming Scheme must give the right level of support to small scale horticulture producers and drive a transition to nature-friendly practices, such as organic, which have the potential to be more resilient in the face of a changing climate. Parallel support should be provided for initiatives that boost demand for these foods, incentivising fresh preparation and minimally processed foods in public settings by mandating procurement policy, and encouraging the marketing and promotion of whole foods in retail settings.
Welsh Government should affirm that healthy and sustainable diets are based on whole and minimally processed foods
Welsh Government dietary guidelines and related policies should reiterate the World Health Organization’s statement that healthy and sustainable diets “are based on a great variety of unprocessed or minimally processed foods, balanced across food groups, while restricting highly processed food and drink products.” They should explicitly recommend the consumption of whole foods, with an emphasis on those of plant origin sourced from nature-friendly farming systems, while cautioning against the excessive consumption of ultra-processed products.
We look forward to the Deputy First Minister’s response.
Please sign our petition if you haven’t already
Join nearly 20,000 people who’ve signed our petition and add your name to help us protect the nation’s health and make it easier for everyone to enjoy a minimally processed diet.
