He points out it was originally promised within six months of the July 15th 2021 publication of the report; it is now rumoured to be coming out after the May 5th local government elections.
However, still no date has been set.
He says: “Defra Minister Victoria Prentis’s appeal at the recent Public Sector Catering Expo that caterers should not be ‘held back’ by the delay was a little disingenuous to say the least.
“She told the audience ‘we will crack on with the work’, encouraging them, instead, to engage with the consultation on Government Buying Standards on Food and Services, and to focus on issues such food waste.
“Which is all well and good, but still leaves the 2bn-meals-a-year public sector in a state of limbo because many of the issues the White Paper should address affect both short-term and more strategic planning. That is, the very things she wants them ‘cracking on with’ right now.
“The ideal for catering directors, buyers and managers would be a more or less wholesale adoption of Dimbleby’s recommendations together with clear policy statements on how they are to be tackled.
“He envisages nothing short of a complete overhaul of the food system, with investment, legislation to encourage healthier diets, support for UK farmers and those in food poverty all linked together by the overarching aim to be more sustainable.
“In other words, a national food strategy endorsed by Government would be helpful whether you are looking at the immediate challenge of juggling tight budgets, food inflation and compliance with standards or addressing longer term issues such as recruitment and retention of staff and building relationships with local food growers and suppliers.
“The reasons given for the delay so far have included Covid lockdowns and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which sound fair enough.
“It is understandable they have attracted the focus of attention, but surely everything else doesn’t have to grind to a halt, does it?
“In fact, these crises and the impact they have on our food system only serve to underline exactly why we need a national food strategy at all.
“Let’s keep our fingers crossed for action soon.”