Right to food ‘must be written into law’

Planned “good food nation” legislation should include the right to food, the Scottish Human Rights Commission has said.

It argues such a move would help protect against food insecurity and tackle health inequalities.

In a report submitted to the Scottish Government’s public consultation on proposals to make Scotland a good food nation, the commission highlighted that the right to food is enshrined in international human rights law.

The commission said this right – which involves food being accessible, adequate and available for everyone – is not being realised across Scotland.

Food insecurity is “unacceptably high”, the report said, with more than 480,500 food parcels being handed out by food banks between April 2017 and September 2018.

It continues: “Health inequalities are persistent, with many people, including children, unable to afford or access a healthy and nutritious diet.”

Commission chairwoman Judith Robertson said: “International law is clear that governments have obligations to take action to ensure people’s right to food is realised. The Scottish Human Rights Commission is calling on the Government to take action to incorporate the right to food into Scotland’s laws.”