UK Food Industry Urges PM Andy Burnham to Treat Food Security as National Priority

LONDON: More than 100 organizations, including leading supermarkets, food manufacturers, farmers, and health groups, have called on British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to place food security on the same strategic footing as defence and energy, warning that the country faces growing risks from climate change, geopolitical instability, and rising production costs.

In an open letter coordinated by the Food Foundation, the signatories urged the government to introduce a comprehensive Good Food Bill to strengthen the resilience of the UK’s food system and ensure long-term access to affordable, nutritious food. The proposal seeks to establish a legal framework to address food insecurity, promote healthier diets, support domestic food production, and reduce obesity and diet-related illnesses.

The coalition, which includes major retailers such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Aldi, along with food producers including Danone and Greencore, warned that climate-related disruptions, global conflicts, and increasing input costs have left the UK’s food supply chain increasingly vulnerable. They cautioned that food prices are expected to remain significantly higher than levels seen at the start of the 2021 cost-of-living crisis.

The appeal comes as the new Labour government begins setting its domestic policy agenda. Campaigners argued that food security should be regarded as a matter of national resilience, comparable to energy and defence, particularly as extreme weather events and international instability continue to threaten global food supplies.

The government has yet to formally respond to the proposal, although the issue is expected to feature in broader discussions on food affordability, public health, and economic resilience in the coming months.