Richard Harrow, chief executive of the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF), has offered a number of comments about the National Food Strategy report issued on July 14. Among other things, the document calls for alternatives to meat including algae and fresh vegetables to be made available to consumers via prescription as a way to improve the nation’s health.
Pointing out that the BFFF appreciates the amount of work, consideration and consultation that has gone into the report, Harrow remarked:
“The reality is that the frozen chain has a vitally important role to play in the years ahead as it continues to make healthy, affordable food widely available. It will also play a key role in reducing food waste, a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions.”
The BFFF chief executive went on to say: “Figures from WRAP tell us we create 9.5 million tons of food waste each year, valued at £19 billion, and household food waste makes up 70% of all food waste post-farm gate – that’s a staggering 6.6 million tons.
“A shift to frozen instead of fresh enables households to drastically cut back on food waste because produce keeps for much longer without spoiling and meals can be prepared using only as much as is needed, when it’s needed.
“And while any measures designed to make healthy food more accessible to all are to be welcomed, frozen vegetables – which research has shown to have a higher vitamin content than fresh produce when stored for several days before use – are already available at a fraction of the cost.”
Harrow noted that a comparison of commonly available fresh and frozen produce at a leading UK supermarket made during Week 28 showed fresh peas to be 696% more expensive, while fresh broccoli florets were 463% more expensive than frozen.
“There can be little doubt that frozen has a key role to play therefore, in addressing the issues Dimbleby cites regarding child obesity and the life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest households,” said Harrow.
“Meanwhile,” he added, “I remain concerned that the proposed wholesale taxes on sugar and salt threatens to put increased pressure on food businesses who are already struggling to get back on their feet after lockdown. Many are dealing with crippling staff shortages and the costs of reformulation are a burden many are simply unable to shoulder. We are already world leaders in salt reduction and there are many examples around the world that show taxing food does little to change consumers buying habits.”
