Food & Health Alliance

The inquiry, which is examining whether government, business and the public are doing enough to ensure food is produced and distributed fairly, began collecting written evidence in June 2009 and is due to produce its final report in spring 2010.

Funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the inquiry is led by a committee of 16 that brings together leading figures from across the food sector including Fairtrade Foundation chief executive Harriet Lamb, Andrew Opie from the British Retail Consortium, Paul Whitehouse, chair of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, and Jeanette Longfield who runs the campaign group Sustain.

Some of the questions it is seeking to answer include:

• What are the underlying reasons some people eat healthily while others do not? 
• Do people working in food and farming get a fair deal?
• Do we have enough say in what we can eat and what goes on the shelves?

The first public hearing in September 2009 heard evidence on food poverty and malnutrition from three witnesses, watched video vox pops about soya production in Paraguay and discussed the substantial written evidence that has already been submitted to the committee.

Two more hearings will be held in October and November 2009, focusing on power in food supply chains and consumer participation in the food system. The inquiry will then produce a report that contains recommendations for food producers, retailers, government and wider society.

The committee has also put out a second call for evidence and is particularly keen to hear first-hand experience from consumers and producers.  In addition it wants to know about examples of good practice in food and farming.

Helen Browning, Food and Farming Director at the Soil Association and Chair of the inquiry, said:

‘Food security and sustainability are front of mind in government and business, but the focus is mainly on the environment – how much food the land can produce and how to stop climate change. This inquiry reminds us that sustainability and food security are at root social issues, and fairness is central to achieving either.’

Anyone wishing to give their views can visit the forum at www.foodethicscouncil.org/foodandfairness

or

email the Food Ethics Council researcher direct at santiago@foodethicscouncil.org