Organisations campaigning on food issues
A list of organisations which campaign to improve public health, nutrition and sustainable food production.
Action on Additives
In September 2007, scientific research confirmed that mixtures of artificial food colourings and a commonly used food preservative can increase hyperactive behaviour in susceptible children. These additives have not been banned. Companies continue to put them into children's food and children's medicines.
http://www.actiononadditives.com/
Anaphylaxis Campaign
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction, commonly linked to consumption of peanuts and other nuts. Causes of anaphylaxis also include other foods, insect stings, latex and drugs. The Anaphylaxis Campaign is an independent charity guided by leading UK allergists.
http://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/
Baby Milk Action
Baby Milk Action is a non-profit organisation which aims to save lives and to end the avoidable suffering caused by inappropriate infant feeding. Baby Milk Action works within a global network to strengthen independent, transparent and effective controls on the marketing of the baby feeding industry.
http://www.babymilkaction.org/
Breastfeeding Manifesto
The Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition looks forward to a society where: Women feel enabled to initiate and continue breastfeeding for as long as they wish; Parents are supported to make informed choices about feeding their babies; Everyone is aware of the significant benefits associated with breastfeeding. Support their work at: http://www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk/
Caroline Walker Trust (CWT)
CWT is a voluntary organisaiton which aims to improve public health through good food. The work of the CWT is particularly targeted towards vulnerable groups and people who need special help. They have produced nutritional and practical guidelines for the under-fives, older people in nursing and residential homes, and looked after children.
http://www.cwt.org.uk/
CASH (Consensus Action on Salt and Health)
CASH is a group of specialists concerned with salt and its effects on health. It is working to reach a consensus with the food industry and Government over the harmful effects of a high salt diet, and bring about a reduction in the amount of salt in processed foods as well as salt added during cooking, and at the table.
www.hyp.ac.uk/cash
Centre for Science in the Public Interest
The Center for Science in the Public Interest is a US based consumer advocacy organization whose twin missions are to conduct innovative research and advocacy programs in health and nutrition, and to provide consumers with current, useful information about their health and well-being.
http://www.cspinet.org/
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
CPAG is a voluntary organisation campaigning for the relief of poverty among children and families with children. As part of their work they have campaigned for school meals and milk tokens for those on low incomes.
http://www.cpag.org.uk/
Children's Food Bill
The Children's Food Bill is seeking to introduce positive measures which will improve children's diets and their current and future health. The Bill aims to protect children from junk food marketing, improve the quality of school meals, stop unhealthy vending in schools and encourage food education and practical skills such as cooking and growing.
http://www.childrensfoodbill.org.uk/
Compassion in World Farming
Compassion in World Farming campaigns to end the factory farming of animals and long distance transport through political lobbying, investigations and hard-hitting campaigns.
http://www.ciwf.co.uk/
Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK is a campaigning organisation which funds research and helps people to live with diabetes. Lots of information on nutrition and diabetes.
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/
Fareshare
Fareshare redistributes surplus food from the food industry to vulnerable people in the community.
http://www.fareshare.org.uk/
Farm: The independent voice of farmers
Farm is a membership organisation campaigning for a viable future for independent and family farms. Farm exists to protect and promote the interests of farmers, to get their voices heard by decision-makers, and to campaign for a positive future for farming, rural communities and the countryside.
http://www.farm.org.uk/
Food Ethics Council
The Food Ethics Council reports on ethical issues ranging from drug use in farm animals to intellectual property in agricultural research.
http://www.foodethicscouncil.org/
Foundation for Local Food Initiatives
The Foundation aims to promote and support the growth of healthy local food economies, as a key part of sustainable development in the UK. This is an excellent resource for anyone working in, or keen to promote, the local food sector.
http://www.localfood.org.uk/
Friends of the Earth
The Real Food Campaign has taken a stance against the introduction of genetically modified crops into the UK and seeks to protect the environment from being over-exploited by intensive agriculture.
www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/real_food
Garden Organic
Garden Organic, the UK's leading organic growing charity, has been at the forefront of the organic horticulture movement for 50 years and is dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food.
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/
GeneWatch UK
GeneWatch UK is a public interest group which aims to ensure that genetic technologies are developed and used in the public interest and in a way which promotes human health, protects the environment and respects human rights and the interests of animals.
http://www.genewatch.org/
GM Freeze
The GM Freeze is supported by an alliance of over 50 national organisations (including The Food Commission) who share the public's concern over the speed at which genetic engineering is being introduced into food and farming. The members of the alliance are united by a belief that we must stop and think about the huge implications of this new technology.
http://www.gmfreeze.org/
Hyperactive Children's Support Group (HACSG)
HACSG provides support to parents and professionals working with children who display signs of hyperactivity, with particular focus on nutritional influences.
http://www.hacsg.org.uk/
International Obesity TaskForce (IOTF)
The IOTF is an international body which works alongside the World Health Organization to tackle the growing health crisis threatened by soaring levels of obesity. Very useful site for anyone researching obesity issues.
http://www.iotf.org/
Japan Offspring Fund
The Japan Offspring Fund (JOF) is a Japanese consumer group and environmental NGO established in 1984. JOF has researched a number of health and safety issues including chemical residues, endocrine disruptors and genetically engineered food.
http://www.tabemono.info/english/index.html
La Leche League
Breast milk gives a baby the best possible start in life, but breast feeding rates in the UK are amongst the lowest in Europe. The aim of La Leche League is to help mothers to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information and education. The League also aims to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.
http://www.laleche.org.uk/
Local Food Works
Local Food Works exists to foster sustainable local food systems through the development of local food networks.
http://www.localfoodworks.org/
Maternity Action
Maternity Action works to end inequality and promote the health and well-being of all pregnant women, their partners and children from before conception through to the child's early years.
http://www.maternityaction.org.uk/index.html
Move4Health
Good health isn't just linked to nutrition. Move4Health is a UK organisation campaigning to get more people, more active, more often.
http://www.move4health.org.uk/
National Heart Forum
The National Heart Forum (NHF) is a leading alliance of over 40 national organisations working to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in the UK. Lots of information on CHD and the effects of diet, smoking and physical activity.
http://www.heartforum.org.uk/
The Parents Jury
The Parents Jury was an independent jury of over 1,300 parents which sought to improve the quality of children's foods and drinks in the UK. The Jury was co-ordinated by The Food Commission. The archived website can be visited at http://www.foodmagazine.org.uk/campaigns/parents_jury/
Pesticides Action Network UK
Pesticide Action Network UK is an independent, non-profit organisation which promotes healthy food, agriculture and an environment which will provide food and meet public health needs without dependence on toxic chemicals, and without harm to food producers and agricultural workers.
http://www.pan-uk.org/
Scottish Community Diet Project
The Scottish Community Diet Project's aim is to help improve Scotland's diet and health. They support work within low-income communities, improving access to and take-up of a healthy diet.
www.dietproject.org.uk/
The Soil Association
The Soil Association is the UK's leading campaigning and certification organisation for organic food and farming. Lots of information on organic food, including info for teachers and students.
http://www.soilassociation.org/
Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming
Sustain is an alliance of over 100 national public interest organisations (including The Food Commission) which work at international, national and local level to improve food and agriculture policies. An excellent website - well worth a look.
http://www.sustainweb.org/
tfX: The campaign against trans fats in food
A useful site highlighting the campaign to remove unhealthy (and unnecessary) trans fats from our food.
http://www.tfx.org.uk/
UK Food Group
The UK Food Group is a UK network for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on global food and agriculture issues.
http://www.ukfg.org.uk/
VEGA
VEGA (Vegetarian Economy and Green Agriculture) is a research, information and campaigning organisation focusing on farming, food, health and the land.
http://www.vegaresearch.org/
Welsh Food Alliance
The Welsh Food Alliance works to raise awareness of healthy diets in local communities, and to inform and influence retailers and decision makers at local, national and UK levels with regard to the importance of a healthy diet to health.
www.welshfoodalliance.org.uk/
Women's Environmental Network
A membership charity, formed in 1988, that educates, informs and empowers women and men who care about the environment, and campaigns on environmental and health issues from a women's perspective. It has a UK-wide network of local groups, quarterly newsletter and campaigns on a number of issues, including local food.
http://www.wen.org.uk/
