New Food Research Collaboration report shows lack of transparency in food industry lobbying

The researchers looked through the transparency data from three government departments (DEFRA, BEIS and DIT) on food and drink industry meetings and lobbying. They find that only top level meetings between ministers and the highest ranking civil servants are listed, and that descriptions of the meetings' purpose are "often very broad" and have descriptions that "merely state the obvious".

The report has three main recommendations:

• Records should be published of 'grey area' communications - eg not just meeting
• Disclosure should be made of non ministerial meetings - eg between senior civil servants and lobbyists
• Detailed meeting descriptions should be published to improve transparency and trust, specific policies and political outcomes that were discussed should also be declared

You can read the full report here