Reports published by The Food Commission
As well as publishing The Food Magazine, The Food Commission (UK) Ltd has published many influential reports. These are available below as PDF downloads.
Ignorance is not bliss when eating out
The Food Commission has published a report, Ignorance is not bliss when eating out, which provides evidence of the need for nutritional labelling of fast food menus. If consumers are able to easily view information on fat, salt, sugar and calorie content of meals, they will be able to make healthier choices.
Ignorance is not bliss when eating out: The need for nutrition labelling at fast food and other chain restaurants by Anna Glayzer and Jessica Mitchell, December 2008.
Click here to view a pdf version of Ignorance is not bliss when eating out
The impact of low wage employment
The impact of low wage employment on workers’ health, nutrition and living standards: a case for the London Living Wage
Jessica Mitchell et al. 2008
This study is based on interviews conducted with 139 individuals, some paid at the national minimum wage and others at the higher Living Wage. The report makes the case that those paid at the Living Wage rate have better access to fruit and vegetables, and are also less likely to report chronic health problems.
Click here to view a pdf copy of The impact of low wage employment
Burger boy - sporty girl
2004. Taste and money, the desire to fit in, peer pressure, and too many ‘unhealthy’ choices are some of the key factors that most affect what children choose to eat, says this report published by leading children’s charity Barnardo’s.
The report consists of interviews with 174 children and young people in nursery, primary and secondary schools from around the UK. The second part of the report was conducted by the Food Commission with an assessment of the nutritional value of school meals, showing that the vast majority of foods on offer throughout the day in secondary schools were unhealthy when compared to Government guidelines.
Burger boy - sporty girl can be viewed on Barnardo's website at http://www.barnardos.org.uk/burger_boy_report_1.pdf
Going Hungry.
Report of a survey conducted by the Food Commission on behalf of NCH Action for Children, published in 2004, showing that half of all parents (46 per cent) on a low income have gone short of food over the last year to feed someone else in their family. Some parents are so desperate for money to feed their children that they have considered doing something illegal.
To view the full report Going Hungry in PDF format please visit the NCH Action for Children website here http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/uploads/media/36/1584.pdf
Broadcasting Bad Health
Why food marketing to children needs to be controlled, July 2003. See press release. 30 pages.
To view Broadcasting Bad Health in PDF format click here
Cause or Compromise?
A survey into marketing partnerships between food companies and health charities or medical associations, April 2002, 98 pages.
To view the full report Cause or Compromise? in PDF format click here
Children's Nutrition Action Plan
Policy recommendations to improve children's health, 2001, 64 pages.
To view the full report Children's Nutrition Action Plan in PDF format click here
Children's Food Examined
An examination of the nutritional values of 358 foods aimed at children, April 2000, 93 pages.
To view the full report Children's Food Examined in PDF format click here
Fortification Examined
How added nutrients can undermine good nutrition. A report into the use and abuse of fortification in over 250 food products, October 1999, 103 pages.
To view the full report Fortification Examined in PDF format click here
Functional Foods Examined
April 1996, 80 pages. Health claims and the need for regulation.
To view the full report Functional Foods Examined in PDF format click here
Rating Retailers: How supermarkets can affect your chances of a healthy diet.
The findings from the National Consumer Council's (NCC) spot-check survey of major supermarkets around England. A series of consumer-focused Health Indicators were used to measure retailers' progress in promoting healthier eating. These were developed by the Food Commission, working with NCC, and showed that people on a low-income were likely to shop in supermarkets that sell less healthy food and put more effort into unhealthy promotions.
The NCC no longer exists. The supermarket reports to which the Food Commission contributed are available in Sustain's archive at: www.sustainweb.org/supermarkets