The Turning the Tables report has called on the Government to tackle the obesity crisis by investing in a Food and Agricultural Sector Deal.
The report estimates that 20 million UK adults can’t afford healthy foods. Almost three quarters of people (71%) would support Government subsidies to make healthier foods cheaper.
The three main drivers that push consumers to unhealthy foods include taste (43%), cost (34%) and ease (34%).
Rose Lasko-Skinner, researcher at Demos and Turning the Tables author said: “Boris Johnson’s strategy to crackdown on obesity is a welcome step in the right direction. But it doesn’t go far enough in tackling root causes of obesity – many of which lie in our food sector, rather than with retailers. Our research shows there is an opportunity for the Government to be even bolder, and pioneers for a new era of food innovation.
“By stimulating ground-breaking innovation in the food sector, the Government could make food healthier, more affordable and provide better choices for consumers, whilst supporting the workforce in the recovery from Covid-19. With the political will to make it happen, it has the potential to transform the health of people in Britain from all walks of life.”
According to Demos research 45% of people would support standardised packaging on unhealthy foods- similar to the approach taken to cigarette packages.