A new citizen-led campaign, Recipe for Change, has launched a Citizens’ Charter calling for urgent action to create a healthier and fairer food system, urging the public to support the initiative by adding their names.
Backed by a coalition of 45 organisations, including Sustain, The Food Foundation, and the Obesity Health Alliance, the campaign highlights growing public concern over the affordability and accessibility of healthy food. Recent YouGov polling reveals that 47% of Britons believe it is harder to maintain a balanced diet today than it was 20 years ago, while 60% say eating healthily is difficult. Among those, 81% cite rising food prices as a key barrier, and 70% point out that unhealthy food is often cheaper than healthier alternatives.
The findings reflect widespread dissatisfaction with both government and industry efforts, with 79% of respondents saying the government should do more to make healthy diets affordable and 84% believing food companies must take greater responsibility. Public trust in voluntary industry action appears low, as nearly 79% doubt that companies will reduce sugar, salt, and saturated fat levels without government intervention. Additionally, 63% of respondents believe that food companies and supermarkets have increased prices more than necessary to boost profits.
The campaign also highlights strong public support for stricter regulation, with 73% backing legislation to control sugar and saturated fat levels in food and 70% supporting limits on salt content. Furthermore, 61% of respondents believe that companies selling unhealthy products should contribute to the healthcare costs associated with diet-related illnesses. Health experts involved in the campaign stress that poor diets are driven not by individual choice but by a system where unhealthy food is cheaper, more accessible, and heavily marketed, while healthier options remain expensive and less available.
The Citizens’ Charter, developed through public workshops and polling, aims to build pressure on policymakers and will collect signatures before being presented to MPs in Westminster later this year. It comes amid rising concerns about food-related health issues, particularly among children, with those in the most deprived communities facing significantly higher obesity rates. Supporters argue that voluntary measures have failed and are calling for stronger government intervention to ensure that public health is prioritised over corporate profits, creating a food system that supports healthier choices for all.