LETTER

In the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit's Food Matters report government has committed to working with stakeholders towards more sustainable food production and consumption, while maintaining the UK food industry's economic vitality.

As the voice of the UK's biggest manufacturing sector, we applaud that.

Clear vision and strategy will be vital in developing the future policy framework the report outlines. Too often our sector has received confused - and conflicting - signals about government priorities and expectations. The Food Strategy Task Force the report recommends may help achieve more joined up policy-making.

Significantly, the report reminds policy makers that government is just one of many players in food debates. That's why forging strong partnerships with industry is important.

Gordon Brown acknowledges as much in the report. He says that while government can set the policy framework for food issues, it can only be delivered if every stakeholder participates and works to make food safer, healthier and more environmentally sustainable.

On these particular pillars of public policy, our sector has shown real leadership, conducting groundbreaking reformulation work and developing healthier choices. We have striven to voluntarily improve nutritional labelling on products and set ambitious carbon reduction plans. Our members have also made public commitments to reduce water usage and worked hard towards sending zero waste to landfill from their factories.

Julian Hunt

Director of communications,

Food and Drink Federation

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