Ahead of the first “Food Dialogue” on 5 March, hosted by the European Commission and focusing on public procurement, the European Heart Network (EHN) joined partners in the EU Food Policy Coalition in a joint letter to Commissioners Stéphane Séjourné, Christophe Hansen and Olivér Várhelyi.
The letter calls on the Commission to unlock the transformative potential of public food procurement and to recognise food as a strategic sector in the revision of the EU Public Procurement Directives.
Public food procurement, representing around €50 billion annually, has significant potential to support healthier diets, sustainable production, and stronger local economies. However, this potential remains underused, with many contracts still awarded primarily on price.