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Centre Researchers Give Evidence to UK Parliamentary Committee

Centre Director Professor Christina Vogel and Visiting Researcher Dr Kawther Hashem gave evidence in the UK Parliament to the Health and Social Care Committee and their inquiry into Food and Weight Management.

November 2025

Watch the session recording
christina vogel giving evidence in parliament

Professor Christina Vogel giving evidence in parliament.

Presenting alongside Professor Chris van Tulleken of University College London, Michael Babler of the Health Action Research Group and Lauren Bowes Byatt of Nesta in the first panel, Professor Vogel argued for a range of interventions the UK Government should implement to incentivise healthier food choices. She called for tighter regulatory frameworks to be built on a front-of-pack or front-of-menu labelling of foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) across sectors, alongside boosting the appeal and availability of fruit and vegetables and stronger enforcement.

Key points Christina highlighted during the session:

  • The cost of fruit and vegetables is double per calorie compared to HFSS foods with food promotions largely targeting foods that are high in fat, salt, and sugar, making it harder to eat healthily on a budget.
  • The need for a clear, front-of-pack, front-of-menu HFSS label that applies to all foods in all settings.
  • Use mandatory reporting and targets to encourage companies across the supply chain to reduce their reliance on HFSS foods and incorporate more fruit and vegetables into their business models.
  • Boost consumption of fruit and vegetables through increasing advertising budgets and requiring them to be placed at the front of stores and at check-outs under a refined Food, Promotions and Placements regulation.
  • Ensure sufficient, ring-fenced funding for local councils to enforce existing regulations.

 

Dr Kawther Hashem (centre) giving evidence in the second panel session.

Visiting Fellow and Food Policy MSc Alum, Dr Hashem presented evidence in the second panel [from 11:02:41] along with Katherine Jenner of the Obesity Health Alliance and Nika Pajda of Bite Back. Dr Hashem spoke in support of taxation that could be applied to HFSS products, which had the potential to drastically reduce rates of obesity and diet-related ill-heath in the UK. She added that lessons could be learned from the implementation of the 2018 soft drinks industry levy to aide its development.