Health and Hospitality: When Does Food Stop Being Food? (Thomasina Miers)

The UK is one of the world’s largest consumers of ultra-processed
foods, so Wahaca restaurants founder Thomasina Miers thinks the
government should cut the taxes of businesses that serve healthy
alternatives.


In fact, she challenges the idea that ultra‑processed products
should be called ‘food’ at all.


From social canteens that teach people to cook simple meals to
zero percent business rates for greengrocers, the MasterChef
winner tells Amol how she would reform Britain’s food system.


And she warns that the hospitality sector is facing a “bloodbath”
after Chancellor Rachel Reeves increased employer national
insurance contributions.


A government spokesperson said: “We're backing hospitality with a
£4.3bn support package to limit business rate bill rises,
alongside capping Corporation Tax at 25%, cutting red tape and
investing £1.5 billion to create 50,000 more apprentices and
foundation apprenticeships.”


“The fair and necessary decisions we made at this Budget and the
last mean we can deliver on the country’s priorities – cutting
waiting lists, cutting debt and borrowing and cutting the cost of
living.”


TIMECODES


(00:03:35) Why Thomasina believes ultra‑processed food shouldn’t
be considered “real” food


(00:08:27) The role of supermarkets


(00:17:14) School meals


(00:21:37) The state of the UK hospitality sector


(00:31:24) Why every high street needs a greengrocer


(00:35:38) Cutting VAT for restaurants


(00:39:37) Valuing well‑grown, high‑quality produce


(00:41:45) Weight‑loss drugs


(00:44:02) Tackling food waste


(00:48:08) Amol’s reflections


GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk
Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday
and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan
Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.
He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before
that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The
Independent.


Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis
Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel
Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Mike Regaard. The
editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.