The controversy over plans to shift to a new nutrient profiling model has taken a new twist, with the departure of farming minister Angela Eagle.
While the strategy was being led by the DHSC, Eagle in her role at Defra was viewed as one of the strongest supporters of the shift. She had strongly defended the move to a new model in talks with industry on the the Food Strategy Advisory Board (FSAB), which she chaired.
On Friday it was revealed Eagle would become the new security minister as part of the government’s reshuffle in the wake of the resignation of John Healey.
Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan has been appointed as the minister of state for food security and rural affairs, becoming the third minister to take up the brief since Labour came to power and casting more doubt over the future of the food strategy.
“It will be interesting to see what impact this has on the NPM discussion,” a source told The Grocer. “Eagle was a strong supporter of the change and that was a boost to the DHSC approach.”
The government is facing strong calls from supermarket bosses and food manufacturers to delay the implementation of the new 2018 model, which would reclassify thousands of food products as HFSS.
Eagle’s departure has also dealt another blow to continuity in the government’s yet-to-materialise food strategy, which has still yet to announce any major plans, even though almost a year has passed since Eagle’s predecessor Daniel Zeichner set out a sweeping series of goals on health and sustainability.
She had also been appointed as the inaugural deputy chair of the newly established Farming & Food Partnership Board.
An industry source told The Grocer: “It’s disappointing that we will be dealing with our third food and farming minister in less than two years and we are yet to see any real progress with either the food strategy or the Farming & Food Partnership Board, which has just started.
“Inevitably a new minister will take time to get up to speed, meaning further delays to these and in danger of losing the attention of industry on them.
“The industry is ready for a really constructive discussion on how we boost investment in UK food production but it is being held up by a lack of resources and drive in Defra.”
Sustainability and health campaigners called on the new minister to push ahead with the government’s Food Strategy ambitions.
Sustain director of policy and advocacy Glen Tarman said that Morgan’s arrival must not signal a backwards step.
“The answer must be actions that improve access to healthy and sustainable food, not ones that delay or trade it off, he said
“What is needed is a rollout of policy actions that accelerate access to affordable, healthy, and sustainable food - for the health of our people, our economy, and our ability to navigate a world reshaped by climate change.”
He praised Eagle short term at the helm adding : “She drove forward the Food Strategy process and was working to build consensus across the food system on its direction.
“She showed a real interest in local action for better health outcomes.”
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