July has brought a significant change in the UK’s political landscape, with Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister. While the new Government inherits a clear direction towards closer EU-UK cooperation, Burnham’s Cabinet appointments have introduced fresh uncertainty over the pace of the regulatory reset and the delayed Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) deal.
The change in leadership also comes as pressure builds on the Government to take stronger action on food and public health policy. A new report from the Health and Social Care Committee has called for mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling, tighter restrictions on advertising for foods high in fat, salt and sugar, and greater transparency from supermarkets. Its recommendations will place early pressure on new Health Secretary Yvette Cooper to set out a clear approach to tackling obesity.
The Government has also confirmed plans to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s in England from April 2027. Meanwhile, proposals for new anti-deforestation supply-chain requirements point to the UK increasingly mirroring elements of EU regulation despite remaining outside the bloc.
In the EU, the European Commission’s new Livestock Strategy and Protein Action Plan signal a cautious approach to alternative proteins. Although the Commission recognises their potential to strengthen food security and resilience, it sees them as complementing rather than replacing Europe’s livestock sector. Their future role will therefore depend on addressing concerns around consumer acceptance, affordability, safety and nutritional value, while demonstrating benefits for farmers and existing supply chains.
From a change in UK leadership and renewed uncertainty over the EU-UK reset to growing pressure on obesity policy, new rules on energy drinks and deforestation, and the EU’s cautious approach to alternative proteins, this edition covers the developments food and nutrition businesses need to be across as summer continues.
With Parliament and policymakers entering the summer recess, Monthly Munch will also be taking a short break. We hope to be back soon with more of the latest developments shaping the food and nutrition sector.
The Food & Nutrition Team, Whitehouse Communications
Policy and regulatory developments
New Prime Minister, new Cabinet
Andy Burnham became Prime Minister on 20th July, following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation after Labour's poor performance in the 2026 May local elections.
On EU-UK relations, Burnham inherits a clear direction of travel. The European Partnership Bill, introduced in Starmer’s final King's Speech, provides the legal framework to implement UK-EU food agreements without reopening the Brexit settlement.
The appointment of Hamish Falconer as Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations, replacing Nick Thomas-Symonds, nonetheless introduces uncertainty over the pace of the reset. Falconer takes over the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agrifood deal, which was due to be finalised at the UK-EU summit on 22nd July and has now been postponed following Starmer's resignation. No new date has been confirmed, though autumn is the working expectation.
Yvette Cooper becomes Health and Social Care Secretary. While her opening statement made no mention of food or obesity, as a Junior Health Minister under Blair she led the government's response to a Parliamentary report on tackling obesity, acknowledging obesity’s link to heart disease and cancer.
On food policy, Burnham's 2024 Nesta Nourishing Britain interview recorded his scepticism towards food taxes and bans. Furthermore, the Health and Social Care Committee earlier this month called for stronger obesity interventions. Howeverwhether Burnham and Cooper translate their experience into action remains to be seen.
Health and Social Care Committee calls for stronger action on obesity
On 15th July, the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee published a report urging the Government to take a stronger approach to tackling obesity through food policy. The Committee called for mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling by January 2028, stricter restrictions on high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) advertising including outdoor and brand advertising, mandatory healthy sales reporting for supermarkets, and updates to the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations. It also urged the Government to prioritise public health over food industry interests when developing future obesity policy.
The report is not binding on Burnham's new Government, but it signals real cross-party appetite in Parliament for stronger interventions targeting the food environment. It will add pressure on new Health Secretary Yvette Cooper to set out a clear public health direction early in her tenure.
For the food industry, the direction of travel is worth watching. Mandatory front-of-pack labelling by 2028 and tighter HFSS advertising rules, if adopted, would affect how nutrient profiles and ingredient-driven product claims are communicated to UK consumers.
UK Government announces new anti-deforestation legislation while EU publishes further guidance on upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
On 23rd June, the UK Government announced plans to introduce anti-deforestation rules requiring businesses importing deforestation-linked commodities into Great Britain to verify their supply chains are not contributing to illegal deforestation. The proposed rules will cover commodities including coffee, cocoa, soy, palm oil and rubber. The rules will apply only to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), with Northern Ireland continuing to apply the EUDR in phases from 30th December 2026, under its dual-market access arrangements through the Windsor Framework.
The Government outlined its intent to hold a public consultation later this year on the proposed framework, which will cover the same core commodities and information requirements as the EUDR to ease compliance. The Government’s longer-term ambition is to transition to a deforestation-free standard, requiring relevant products to be produced free from any deforestation, not just illegal deforestation.
Overall, this points to an emerging trend of the UK increasingly aligning with, and in some cases replicating, EU legislation. Ahead of the EUDR entering into force later this year, on 13th July the European Commission adopted a Delegated Act and an Implementing Act which update the list of products in scope and establish technical rules for the EUDR Information System.
UK Government confirms ban on high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16s
On 16th July, the UK Government confirmed it will ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks (containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre) to under-16s in England from April 2027, subject to parliamentary approval. The ban will apply to sales in shops, vending machines and online, with retailers responsible for enforcing the age restriction and businesses facing fines of up to £2,500 for non-compliance.
The Government said the measure forms part of its wider strategy to improve children's health and tackle obesity, alongside policies, including restrictions on HFSS advertising and promotions, the extension of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy and new school food standards. The government will bring forward secondary legislation which will need to go through the parliamentary approval process before the ban can come into force in April 2027.
Meanwhile, medical professionals continue to call for the EU ban them for minors on the continent and to restrict adverts, as rates of consumption among young people are on the rise. While the European Commission considers existing EFSA opinion from 2015 on the safety of caffeine as sufficient and sees no need for additional EU action, left-wing lawmakers in the European Parliament previously called for stronger European rules to protect children. The conservative and right-wing majority continues to push back against any EU wide intervention, while the market is more and more fragmented with different restrictions applied at national level.
On 7th July, the European Commission published its new Livestock Strategy and Protein Action Plan, setting out its vision for a more resilient, sustainable and competitive European food system. Together, the two strategies promote greater protein diversification and recognise the potential of alternative proteins to strengthen food security. However, they also reaffirm the central role of Europe's livestock sector, signalling that the Commission sees alternative proteins as complementing, rather than replacing, traditional agriculture. What does this mean for the alternative protein sector?
The Protein Action Plan sets out plans to promote protein diversification, for example by introducing transition payments to support farmers in introducing protein crops and to reform public food procurement to prioritise local plant-based products and pulses. It also highlights the potential of emerging technologies such as precision and biomass fermentation, and points to the upcoming Biotech Act II, which will aim to strengthen the EU’s industrial competitiveness. However, the Commission adopts a cautious approach towards the wider deployment of these technologies, emphasising that a number of challenges such as consumer acceptance, affordability, and nutritional quality must still be addressed. The Commission also emphasises that efforts to diversify protein sources should not come at the expense of the competitiveness of the European livestock sector.
This is further emphasised in the Livestock Strategy, which positions the livestock sector as an important component of Europe’s food security and strategic autonomy and focuses on improving its sustainability and resilience through innovation and improved efficiency. In doing so, the Commission has made clear that it does not see reducing livestock production in Europe as the primary route to addressing sustainability challenges, arguing that this could result in production shifting elsewhere rather than reducing overall emissions.
Overall, while the Commission recognises the role of alternative proteins in strengthening food security and resilience, it has stopped short of committing to concrete support measures. The Biotech Act II, expected in Q4, will therefore be an important indicator of the EU’s future direction. In the meantime, alternative protein businesses are likely to gain greater political traction by positioning themselves as complementary to, rather than replacing, Europe’s livestock sector.
Shaping the future of sustainable food systems
This month’s top industry initiatives selected by the Whitehouse team:
- Kraft Heinz reaches 100% renewable electricity milestone: Kraft Heinz announced that all eight of its European factories now operate on 100% renewable electricity, covering sites in the UK, the Netherlands, France, Poland and Spain.
Think that your sustainable initiative deserves a shout out? Please contact: eden.reyhanian@whitehousecomms.com
Engagement opportunities
Open consultations
Engage with these consultations to shape the issues affecting your organisation:
- European Commission consultation on the Biotech Act. The Commission adoption feedback period closes on 5th August.
- European Commission consultation on high-risk organic and in-conversion products from non-EU countries – detailed list. The deadline for feedback closes on 24th August.
- FSA consultation on the proposed revocation of one Regulated Feed Product 2026. The deadline is 2nd October.
Events calendar
- 21st-22nd September: Food Matters Live (Rotterdam).
- 24th-25th September: Future Food Tech (London).
- 17th-19th November: Food Ingredients (Frankfurt).
Get in touch: Zoé Choulika, Account Manager, Food, Public Health and Sustainability
zoe.choulika@whitehousecomms.com