The government's MPs were less likely to be concerned by food prices or healthiness. © Ben Fisher/GAVI Alliance
New research uncovering the UK parliament’s priorities for the food and drink industry has shown that MPs are more concerned by suppliers and farmers earning a fair price for their produce than they are about the healthiness or affordability of food.
Commissioned by MHP Communications, the survey asked MPs which issues are most important in forming their opinion about food and drinks producers. The price suppliers and farmers earn topped the list, with the payment terms that manufacturers offer to suppliers and the clear labelling of products coming in a close joint second – with 88% of MPs saying that the two issues were important to them.
Making products healthier and more affordable were rated as the sixth and seventh most important factors out of seven available options. There was a pronounced difference between the responses of Conservative and Labour MPs in regards to the importance of healthy foods – 93% of Labour MPs said that healthier products were an important opinion-forming factor in their considerations of the food and drink industry, compared to just 73% of Conservative MPs.
This difference was less pronounced when it came to keeping the price of food affordable – although Labour MPs still rated it as a more important factor than their Conservative counterparts.
The house’s relatively blasé attitude to the healthiness of food and drink products will be seen as a slightly concerning attribute, particularly in the light of a report that recommends Public Health England halve its sugar intake guideline from 10% of total energy consumption to just 5%.
MHP Communications managing director, corporate affairs James Gurling said: “Our research shows that MPs are less interested in the issue of food and drink pricing than retailers perhaps expect them to be. Despite this, the high levels of engagement from MPs means cost concerns are unlikely to completely drop off the agenda any time soon.
“The increased focus on supply chain and the ‘provenance’ of food broadly reflects the general mood of consumers, which is clearly apparent to MPs via their constituents. Unsurprisingly, retailers are already reacting to this with communications campaigns focusing on supply chain and the origin of their products, but it is essential that these are built on sound practical and ethical foundations to ring true with consumers.”
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