12th November 2026
“Don’t Wait for the Government”
Goulson starts this chapter thus: “Governments have a poor track record in promoting healthy eating. They could do huge amounts: running public health campy, taxing unhealthy foods, subsidising heathy foods, supporting farmers to grow healthy foods, providing healthy food in schools, hospitals and prisons, and so on. The options are endless, but governments rarely employ any of them, and when they do, they are often stymied by commercial interests or their own un-joined up policies.” (P196 Eat the Planet Well)
The chapter is full of pertinent examples. Of those with great promise was the National Food Strategy undertaken by Henry Dimbleby at the government’s request, but which was not followed through with government action.
Goulson concludes, “So, while we wait for our governments to solve inequality, eradicate poverty and fix our toxic food system … we should bust ourselves with working out a way to feed our families an affordable and nutritious diet with a small environmental impact while exposing ourselves and the environment to the fewest possible pesticides.” (P203)
I wonder if this is an area where churches and other faith groups can have an impact? Churches etc generally have good knowledge of local needs and opportunities and the communication channels with which to pass on good advice and information.
