Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what indicators his department uses to assess the impact of access to adequate, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food on health outcomes; and whether he plans to publish a consolidated framework for measuring the role of nutrition in preventing diet-related illness.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) assess the level of food insecurity in the population. The FSA refers to the 1996 World Food Summit definition that “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”.

The relationship between food insecurity, nutritional intake, and health in the UK is currently unclear. However, international evidence suggests that in the long-term, food insecurity may be associated with poorer diets and poorer health, including higher risk of overweight and obesity.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) provides independent scientific advice and risk assessments on nutrition and related health issues. The SACN’s remit includes matters concerning nutrient content of individual foods, advice on diet, and the nutritional status of the UK population. The SACN undertakes robust risk assessments and provides dietary recommendations.

The Government’s food strategy for England aims to achieve more affordable, accessible and healthier food for everyone, particularly for those on low incomes. We will set out more detail as the work progresses.