London, UK - The research and innovation foundation Nesta is urging the government to act on the Healthy Food Standard, after the Health and Social Care Committee said in a report published today that it has no faith in the government’s ability to deliver its obesity moonshot. The Healthy Food Standard policy was announced by the Secretary of State for Health as part of the government’s 10 Year Plan for Health in June 2025, and will require food retailers to work to targets for the healthiness of their sales.

Lauren Bowes Byatt, director of healthy life at Nesta, said: “MPs declaring they have no faith in the government’s ability to tackle obesity must serve as a stark wake-up call. If we keep relying on piecemeal policies, we will sleepwalk into a future of poorer health and soaring NHS costs. Obesity rates have doubled in 30 years and only regulatory change, like the healthy food standard - which would bring in mandatory healthiness targets for supermarkets - can change that.

“It has been 484 days since the government launched its 10 Year Health Plan, yet its flagship obesity policy has seen no progress. With every day of inaction, more children are born into a food system stacked against them. Political leadership has been lacking on this issue and we urgently need those at the very top of government to rally behind the only policy on the table that can deliver real impact.”

Notes to editors

1. For more information on the analysis or to speak to one of the experts involved, please contact Anja McLoughlin, Group Media Manager, on 020 7438 2576 or [email protected]. Spokespeople are available for broadcast interviews.