The anouncement is broadly welcomed, as is the governments intention to join up government departments to tackle the complex and urgent reform of the food system.
However, it is disappointing to see so little representation from civil society, public health, environment, nature-friendly farmers, food partnerships and pioneers of local and regional action that will be so integral to a national Food Strategy's success.
The board is awash with food manufacturers and processors, which sell food which are widely recognised as ones which the UK public needs to eat less of – meat, sugar, ultra processed foods and HFSS (high in fat, salt and sugar), with four members who are associated with or have had previous connections with the pig industry. 
Chris Whitty is welcomed as is Susan Jebb from the health perspective, and Anna Taylor from The Food Foundation, who is the only representative from experts in sustainable food systems. But there are no representatives from progressive farmers and growers, regenerative farming, sustainability and the environment. No food system experts like Tim Benton or Tim Laing, or growers and manufacturers of foods that are widely regarded as needing to be included in the UK diet more; fruit and veg growers/ sector representatives, pulses for humans, alternative plant-proteins. No representatives from the education sector, no one involved in the hospitality sector and no one involved in pioneering small businesses.
What about Henry Dimbleby’s food Strategy commissioned by the last government and published in 2022 and virtually ignored. Lets hope it will be integral to the new Food Strategy. Otherwise what a huge waste of time and money it was.