I spent the half-year working on this investigation. Extraordinary influence of UPF lobby behind the scenes. 'UK government dropped health push after lobbying by ultra-processed food firms' 👇 www.theguardian.com/society/ng-i... - ThreadSky

rob-percival.bsky.social • 18 days ago

I spent the half-year working on this investigation. Extraordinary influence of UPF lobby behind the scenes.

'UK government dropped health push after lobbying by ultra-processed food firms' 👇

https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2025/may/17/uk-government-drops-healthy-eating-push-after-lobbying-by-ultra-processed-food-firms?CMP=share_btn_url

Comments

thebossross.bsky.social•18 days ago

Thank you for this excellent piece of investigative journalism.

tashinken.bsky.social•18 days ago

Thank you for exposing shameful behaviour of the government. Selling out the public as usual

hotchkiss13.bsky.social•18 days ago

Another example of us having the best government money can buy.

j0hnbarleyc0rn.bsky.social•18 days ago

This food is the one thing that could really change the health of the nation. They’ve no balls.

policyrelevant.bsky.social•18 days ago

I used a lot of FOIs for a research project on multistakeholder partnerships and the role of the FDF - hard to think of a trade association that’s been more effective at lobbying policy makers

https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/the-informal-governance-of-public-private-partnerships-in-uk-obes

wonkish.bsky.social•18 days ago

As soon as someone uses the meaningless and utterly arbitrary term “ultra-processed food” I know to ignore them.

futuretimeline.bsky.social•18 days ago

What do you suggest we call these unhealthy foods?

wonkish.bsky.social•18 days ago

Just because something is processed, doesn't mean it's unhealthy, but if it is, I'd suggest "unhealthy foods".

radders.bsky.social•18 days ago

There's processed and there's ultra processed. This is an example of the latter. Even dogs wouldn't eat it. And xantham gum is the stuff that makes the gunk in a sink stick to the plug.

wonkish.bsky.social•18 days ago

Again, the definitions are incredibly arbitrary and there's no actual evidence there's an issue here. Ann Reardon (food scientist, dietician, cook) has a great video going over this and the research around it.

katiepk.bsky.social•18 days ago

Thank for the work involved in uncovering this powerful industry action which unfortunately continues to negatively influence government guidance, at the expense of public health.

jeanmadams.bsky.social•18 days ago

Congratulations! (But *sigh*) Do you have any thoughts on why these details weren't redacted too? Am I overthinking it to think if they'd wanted to they could've redacted more or said your request was too much work to fulfill?

rob-percival.bsky.social•17 days ago

They declined to return anything at first. Took several months and threat of internal review at DHSC and escalation to Information Commissioner for them to respond. I think calculated to give us just enough to satisfy us/make us go away, but probably with plenty still witheld.

rob-percival.bsky.social•17 days ago

P.S. you're briefly quoted in our new 'whole truth' report, published alongside this investigation/campaign - appreciate your work in this space!

https://www.soilassociation.org/media/28184/the-whole-truth-final.pdf

andyjolley.bsky.social•17 days ago

I wonder if the same people have influence over the school food?

We have been waiting for new school food standards for years

We need government guidelines on packed lunches

Both inexplicably delayed

rob-percival.bsky.social•17 days ago

I think that's more just DfE over-stretched, underfunded, and distracted by breakfasts. Plus politically complex (sugar, meat, nanny state etc).

andyjolley.bsky.social•17 days ago

The last government had replacement standards, but failed to implement them

Can’t help think there was something more than staffing shortages

Breakfast clubs should incentivise DfE to change to standards