IT’S time for the Scottish Government to smell the coffee and, as a matter of urgency, bring a consultation on a Bill which could give Scotland the title of Good Food Nation, into play.

This was the call this week when campaigners brought kitchen tables and chairs outside the Scottish Parliament to launch a report on public priorities for the future of food in Scotland.

The report, published by the Scottish Food Coalition, asked the public their top priorities and concerns for a Good Food Nation, adding pressure on the Scottish Government to begin its overdue consultation on a Bill before the summer recess.

Top concerns include the affordability of a healthy diet, and the environmental impact of our food system.

Scottish Food Coalition coordinator, Amabel Crowe, said: “With over 800 people participating in the Food Coalition’s kitchen table talk engagement, it’s clear that there is public appetite for a national conversation on what it means to be a Good Food Nation.

“People who participated in the engagement want to see the Scottish Government take action to support local food economies, make all food sustainable through incentives and regulation, and to improve financial and physical access to healthy diets.

“Never has there been a timelier moment to introduce law – food sits at the heart of Scotland’s biggest challenges, from food insecurity to poor health, from worker rights to our warming climate.

“The Scottish Government needs to hear these voices, the public consultation on a Good Food Nation Bill can’t just be about business as usual, it has to listen to the families relying on food banks, the people with chronic health conditions, the workers and the farmers who feed Scotland”.

Head of policy and public affairs at UNISON, Dave Watson, said: “The consultation is long overdue. It must start soon and be well thought out and inclusive.

“We are part of the Scottish Food Coalition because we want a food system based on the principles of social and environmental justice, with public services leading by example.”

Lorraine Tulloch, programme lead for Obesity Action Scotland said:”The kitchen table talks have reinforced how important it is that we improve the accessibility and affordability of a healthy diet. If we truly want to call ourselves a Good Food Nation then we must have a Bill that enables everyone in Scotland to have a healthy diet.”

Robin McAlpine,from Common Weal, a ‘think and do tank’ said: ““Food is one of the most political conversations people have in Scotland and there are widespread and very strong views about how our food system should be improved for our health, for our economy and for our quality of life among many other things.

“ It really is time that the Scottish Government pressed on with the Good Food Nation Bill to start the process of getting public policy catch up with the hopes and aspirations of the Scottish public”