Two very revealing reports have just been released by Foodrise. They decribe the scale of the problems in our food system but also the solutions..
Supermarkets are built to maximise profit, regardless of the consequences for farmers, public health or the environment.
The Profit over Purpose report findings expose a litany of harms:
* Exploiting farmers: Supermarkets squeeze British farmers while their CEOs take home millions
* Harming public health: They prioritise cheap, unhealthy foods over fresh, nutritious produce
* Driving environmental destruction: Supermarkets are contributing to climate breakdown, food waste, and biodiversity loss
The government’s reliance on supermarkets in its new food strategy to drive a better food system? Wishful thinking at best, delusion at worst.
The Purpose over Profit Report calls on the government to:
1. Back community-led food models that put people before profits
2. Introduce a new Food Chain Law to regulate supermarkets, stop below-cost selling, and guarantee fair pay for farmers
3. Use salt and sugar tax revenues to be ring-fenced to lower the cost of healthy food.
4. Invest in local food hubs and fairer tax treatment for independent retailers
5. Use public sending on food to promote public goods