
Letter to Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Education from Marcus Rashford, Chefs, NGOs, Health and Education Leaders asking for Comprehensive Free School Meals Review
Free School Meals Policy Review Letter
Peas Please: Progress Report 2020

Plating Up Progress 2020: Pathways for a healthy, just and sustainable food system during a global pandemic

Christmas holiday hunger letter from Civil Society coalition to Department for Education
Food Foudnation, alongside 30+ Civil Society partners, sent another letter to the Department for Education urging them fill the hunger gap this Christmas.
The letter recommends that a top-up grant be distributed via local authorities (or directly to schools and academy trusts) to cover the Christmas holiday period and beyond to Easter 2021, if England is to follow the lead of the devolved nations.
The letter was sent to Gavin Williamson MP (Secretary of State for Education) and Vicky Ford MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families)
The letter gained exclusive media coverage with the Huffington Post.

Healthy Start Scheme letter to The Chancellor of the Exchequer & Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
A letter signed by more than 50 public health directors, sector experts and healthcare professionals to Rishi Sunak (The Chancellor of the Exchequer) and Matt Hancock (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care) calling on Government to allocate additional funding to the Healthy Start scheme which supports low-income families.
Healthy Start Letter
Education Leaders letter to Ministers Asks for Action on Free School Meals and Holiday Provision
More than 30 influential education leaders wrote a letter to Ministers urging Government to act on the policy asks in Part 1 of the National Food Strategy.
Signatories include general secretaries of leading headteachers unions, Governance Association and 17 leaders of the largest multi academy trusts (representing 400 schools) who all joined forces to urge the Government to respond to tackle the growing issue of child food poverty.
The letter was addressed to Rishi Sunak, The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education as well as Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
Education Leaders Letter
MP Briefing: PROTECTING VULNERABLE CHILDREN’S DIETS
This briefing paper sets out the current statistics on food insecurity amongst families and children and suggests that a careful and very targeted investment in three existing schemes (as recommended in the recent National Food Strategy commissioned by the Government, and as promoted by Marcus Rashford and his Child Food Poverty Task Force) would be a quick and well-evidenced way to begin tackling the problem. These schemes would also have other benefits – improving the long-term health and resilience of the population, reducing childhood obesity, improving children’s academic performance, supporting parents to stay in work during the holidays, and easing the strain on the welfare system. The programs align closely with the Government’s commitments to address inequalities and ‘level-up’ disadvantaged communities, spend £1billion on childcare to support parents, and help the country recover from Covid-19.
MP Briefing
Representation to Comprehensive Spending Review
This representation sets out recommendations on Free School Meals, Healthy Start and holiday food
provision which the following organisations strongly support:
School Food Matters, Food Foundation, Bite Back 2030, Save the Children UK, Feeding Britain, Soil Association, Meals & More, Mayor’s Fund for London, Church Action on Poverty, Chefs in Schools, Alexandra Rose Charity, Community Shop, FareShare, Food Cycle.

The Broken Plate 2020 Report
Ten vital signs documenting the health of our food system, how it impacts on our lives, and why we must change the food environment
Broken Plate 2020 Report Broken Plate 2020: Technical Report
Covid-19 and the convenience store sector
A Food Foundation and Peas Please Report commissioned by the Association for Convenience Stores.
What is the likely impact of Covid-19 on food supply and consumption? How might consumer habits and attitudes to food change and what might this mean for the sector?
Covid-19 and the convenience store sector
COVID-19: What impacts are unemployment and the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme having on food insecurity in the UK?
This briefing report uses data from two YouGov surveys commissioned by the Food Foundation over 14-17 May 2020 and 6-8 July 2020 to examine how risk of food insecurity compares for adults who have been furloughed or newly without work since February 2020 compared to those who have remained in work.
Report - COVID-19: What impacts are unemployment and the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme having on food insecurity in the UK?
2020 Children’s Right2Food Charter
The 2020 Children’s Right2Food Charter has been updated in light of the problems exacerbated by the Covid-19 lockdown, and provides an evidence-based road map for the government to ensure that every children has access to a healthy diet. The Charter is accompanied by a new briefing which points to a lack of action, slow progress and Covid-related delays in children’s food policy across all four UK nations despite two million children experiencing food insecurity since lockdown.
2020 Children's Right2Food Charter A Year of Children's Food progress briefing Children's Right2Food illustration
Global food systems – Covid-19 emergency food provision in Birmingham, UK, and Pune, India
City of Birmingham Covid-19 Emergency Response Providing School Meals in the City of Birmingham During the Covid-19 Emergency City of Pune Covid-19 Emergency Food Response
Free School Meal Holiday Provision in England Parliamentary Facts and Figures Briefing
Free School Meal Holiday Provision in England Parliamentary Facts and Figures Briefing
Veg Facts 2020: In Brief
An update on our 2016 report, Veg Facts 2020 is a Peas Please brief looking at the state of veg in the UK: how much are we eating and growing, what needs to change, and what next for more veg?
Veg Facts 2020: In Brief Veg Facts 2020: In Brief - Welsh Language
Covid-19 UK Veg Box Scheme Report
A Food Foundation report looking at UK veg box sales during the coronavirus lockdown. We found that veg box sales increased by 111% in the six weeks between the end of February 2020 and mid-April 2020.
Covid-19 UK Veg Box Scheme Report
Vulnerability to food insecurity since the COVID-19 lockdown
On the 11th April 2020, we reported the results of our YouGov survey which found that more than three million people reported going hungry in the first three weeks of the UK’s COVID-19 lockdown. This report from Dr Rachel Loopstra, King’s College London, explores what is driving hunger in the population at this time, asking, has the COVID-19 lockdown exacerbated food insecurity among those who regularly struggle to afford enough food, created new economic vulnerability on account of loss of work and income and the loss of free school meals for children, or created new vulnerability because people are self-isolating and unable to get the food they need?
COVID-19 vulnerability to food insecurity report
Healthy Food Economy Policy Audit Tool
This report presents an audit tool the Food Foundation created for Birmingham Public Health on the extent to which their existing policies and programmes are creating a healthy food economy in the city. Included here is a toolkit for other Local Authorities to use and the report written for Birmingham Public Health as an example of a finished product.
BCC Food Policy Audit Report Food Policy Audit Tool
2019 Peas Please Progress report
The 2nd Peas Please Progress Report has arrived, and it shows that UK food businesses have served 90 million additional portions of vegetables over the past two years as part of the Peas Please initiative.
2019 Peas Please progress report
London Children’s Food Insecurity briefing
This Children’s #Right2Food briefing looks at the scale and nature of children’s food insecurity in London. Building on the work done by the UK-wide Children’s Future Food Inquiry, the report profiles the views and experiences of young people in London and puts forward their London Children’s #Right2Food Charter, which identifies policy priorities from the national Charter and makes recommendations for their practical application in the capital.
London Children's Food Insecurity briefing London Children's #Right2Food Charter
Eating out of the home in Pune, India
This briefing summarises the findings from a household survey of eating out practices which the Gokhale Institute conducted in Pune, India. It has been developed as part of the partnership which we facilitate between Pune and Birmingham on smart nutrition policies.
Eating out of the Home in Pune
Annual Report 2019
This is our forth annual report, where we give an update on what we have achieved this year and our strategy moving forward.
Annual Report 2019
Food Foundation Submission to The National Food Strategy Call for Evidence: Getting our food policy governance right
Food Foundation Submission to The National Food Strategy Call for Evidence: Getting our food policy governance right
Peas Please Submission to National Food Strategy Call for Evidence Final
Peas Please started with a simple concept: to make it easier for everyone in the UK to eat enough vegetables through food system change.
Peas Please Submission to National Food Strategy Call for Evidence Final
Food Foundation response to the Advancing our health prevention in the 2020s
The Food Foundation response to the Advancing our health prevention in the 2020s
Submission to the Health and Social Care Committee’s Inquiry on Childhood Obesity October 2019
Submission to the Health and Social Care Committee's Inquiry on Childhood Obesity October 2019
Submission to Select Committee on Food, Poverty, Health and the Environment
The Food Foundation, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and SHEFS written submission to the House of Lords Select Committee on Food, Poverty, Health and the Environment
Submission to Select Committee on Food, Poverty, Health and the Environment
Plating Up Progress Part 2
Retailers, Caterers and restaurants aren’t reporting on their transition to healthy and sustainable diets. Why does this matter for investors and what can they do about it?
Plating Up Progress Part 2: Must-Have Metrics is a new investor briefing developed by the Food Climate Research Network at the University of Oxford and independent think tank the Food Foundation. The report demonstrates that investors can identify opportunities and avoid risks by understanding how far food businesses are prepared for the transition to sustainable and healthy food, and put forwards the necessary metrics for assessing progress.
Plating Up Progress Part 2
Plating Up Progress
Plating Up Progress (a Food Climate Research Network (University of Oxford) and Food Foundation project) has released a new investor briefing, Plating Up Progress Part 1, which looks at the sustainability risks and opportunities that exist for food retailers, caterers and restaurants.
Find more information on the webinars or interest to the event here.
Plating Up Progress Part 1

Children’s Future Food Inquiry final report
The Children’s Future Food Inquiry is the first attempt to directly and systematically seek the views of children and young people living in poverty across the UK. The project’s final report pulls together direct input from hundreds of young people, the front line staff, academics and experts.
Children's Future Food Inquiry final report #Right2Food Charter
The Broken Plate Report
Ten vital signs revealing the health of our food system, its impact on our lives and the remedies we must pursue.

Annual Report 2018
This is our third annual report, where we give an update on what we have achieved this year and our strategy moving forward
Annual Report
Healthy Returns: Opportunities for market-based solutions to childhood obesity
This report, produced for Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity and Big Society Capital, finds that food producers and retailers can play a vital role in tackling childhood obesity by addressing the unmet need of healthy, affordable food options for low income families.
Healthy Returns: Opportunities for market-based solutions to childhood obesity Healthy Returns roundtable slides
Parliamentary briefing on the Agriculture Bill

2018 Peas Please progress report
Our first progress report, explaining what’s been achieved over the first year of Peas Please. Packed full of case studies from our pledgers and insight into how we help everyone eat more veg.
Peas Please progress report 2018
Affordability of the UK’s Eatwell Guide
This report compares the cost of the Eatwell Guide with disposable income to estimate the proportion of income which would need to be allocated to food to afford the Eatwell Guide.
Affordability of the Eatwell Guide Affordability Infographic Wales Affordability Infographic Scotland Affordability Infographic Northern Ireland Affordability Infographic UK
Food Foundation response to DEFRA’s Health and Harmony consultation
Food Foundation Response to DEFRA’s consultation on “Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit”
FF Health and Harmony Response
Fruit and Vegetable Alliance Submission to DEFRA’s Health and Harmony Consultation
Fruit and Vegetable Alliance Joint Response to “Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit”
F&V Alliance Submission
Food Foundation submission to EFRA Select Committee Inquiry on Health and Harmony
Food Foundation response to the EFRA Select Committee’s Inquiry on DEFRA’s Consultation Paper “Health and Harmony”
Inquiry response
Food Foundation response to Health Select Committee Inquiry on Childhood Obesity
Written Evidence Submitted by the Food Foundation to the Health and Social Care Committee’s Inquiry on Childhood Obesity
Child Obesity Inquiry
Response to Scottish Government Consultation
Food Foundation response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on their draft overweight and obesity plan: ‘A healthier future – action and ambitions on diet, activity and healthy weight’
Scottish Govt Consultation Response
Annual Report 2017
This is our second annual report, where we give an update on what we have achieved this year and our strategy moving forward.
annual report
Eating Better for Less
This report looks at ways in which we can incentivise fruit and veg consumption with price discounts at point of sale, drawing on examples from the USA.
Eating Better for Less
Farming for 5-A-Day
This report asseses the impact of different Brexit scenarios on our ability to afford our 5-A Day. It highlights the huge opportunity for government to create a new Agriculture Bill that supports British farmers and our heatlh.
Farming for 5-A-Day: Breakfast Bounty or Dietary Disaster
International Learning Series
These briefings are the first of our ongoing international briefing series, a variety policy briefings to encourage international learning on food security & nutrition policy.
UK & Global Malnutrition: the new normal The UK's Sugar Levy The UK's Sugar Levy (Portuguese) UK's Restrictions on Junk Food Advertising to Children UK's Restrictions on Junk Food (Portuguese) Brazil's Food and Nutritional Governance Plan Brazil's Policy to Guarantee Food Rights Learning from Brazil's Food & Nutrition Security Policies
Food Environment Policy Index: Final Report
This report describes the methods and results for the Food Environment Policy Index in England.
Food EPI Final report Appendix 1: Selection of International examples Appendix 2: International Examples Appendix 3 Evidence Paper Appendix 4 Rating Workshop methods Appendix 5 Methods FAQ Appendix 6 Glossary Appendix 8 List of organisations of raters Appendix 9 Rating sheet Appendix 10 List of experts who refined the actions Appendix 11 Prioritisation of actions excel sheet Appendix 12 Prioritisation of actions allocation of points
Veg Facts
Veg Facts is packed full of stats about veg consumption and production in the UK. It sets out the challenge for our Peas Please project which aims to tackle the supply side barriers to veg consumption.
Veg Facts
Measuring household food insecurity in the UK and why we must do it
Food Foundation, Sustain and Oxford University policy briefing on the case for national measurement of household food insecurity.
Policy Briefing
The Sustainable Development Goals in the UK inquiry
Food Foundation’s written submission to the Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry into the domestic implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Written submission
Annual Report 2016
This is our first annual report, where we report on our activities in our first year. It currently includes some preliminary statistics which will be updated in September 2016 following the end of our financial year.
annual report
Submission to CAP
21/07/2016Submission to CAP consultation on food and drink advertising to children
Download the submission

Food Environment Policy Index: Evidence Paper
14/06/2016Update: We have now validated the EPI Evidence Paper with Government officials and presented it to Academic Experts and Civil Society at an Expert Consultationbased on the INFORMAS methodology
11/02/2016The Food Foundation is in the process of developing the Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI). The Healthy Food Environment Policy Index aims to track the progress that governments have made towards good practice in improving food environments and nutrition. It identifies critical gaps in policies and infrastructure, provides a means of benchmarking against international best practice, and tracks progress over time.
Download the final evidence paper
#MakeRioCount: Nutrition for Growth Commitment
The Food Foundation, supported by World Cancer Research Fund International, Sustain, Church Action on Poverty and First Steps Nutrition worked, in collaboration, to define food and nutrition security priorities for the UK. The result of this work is shown in the attached report, which proposes two commitments that the UK government should make, in addition to its international development commitments, at the forthcoming Rio Nutrition 4 Growth summit. These commitments were presented to Parliamentarians, Government and NGO’s at an event in Parliament on the 13th April at which Ministers from the Department of Health and Department for International Development spoke, along with Olympian James Cracknell OBE.
Download the commitments
Food and the EU Referendum
The Food Foundation co-convened an event in Parliamenton the 25th April on the implications of leaving or remaining in the European Union on UK food policy following the EU Referendum on the 23rd June. This policy briefing summarises the debate between Prof Tim Lang, Prof Wyn Grant and Prof Fiona Smith, and Kerry McCarthy MP and Raymond Finch MEP as they discussed the food policy implications for both outcomes. It also draws on two papers produced on the topic by the speakers and referenced at the end. This paper attempts to address the key issues which voters will care about.
Download the Policy Briefing
Time to Count the Hungry
In January 2016 The Food Foundation co-hosted aworkshop with the Food Research Collaboration, Sustain, Oxfam, and the Sociology Department of Oxford University, to look at the issue of measuring household food insecurity in the UK. The workshop was attended by relevant academics and civil society organisations and it reviewed existing methods of measurement used by other countries and the UN and current activity around the UK.
The result of that workshop was Time to Count the Hungry, a report that highlights the need and benefit to use a standard measure of household food insecurity and suggests two possible formats. Without measurement and full understanding of the problem, effective action cannot be taken.
Download the report Read more about the workshop
Force-Fed
The Food Foundation publishes Force Fed, which shows how difficult it is for typical British families to eat a healthy diet and calls for concerted government action to incentivise the food system to make healthy eating easier.
Read the Report Read the Executive Summary Read the Methodology Paper View the Infographic Read the Press Release