Who we are
Launched by Jamie Oliver in October 2019, Bite Back is a unique, non-political, youth-led charity and food activism movement, focused on a singular mission to put an end to the global epidemic of food-related ill health. In the UK, nearly a third of children aged 2-15 are now at future risk of developing food-related illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, tooth decay and heart disease, but their future could look completely different. Bite Back addresses the root cause and demands a higher standard from food marketing and from everyday food itself. We mobilise young people in the fight for better food and to put an end to this preventable health crisis caused by the proliferation of cheap high fat, salt, sugar and ultra-processed foods.
Why we exist
It should be easy for us to eat healthily - it isn’t.
The food system is rigged against us, flooding our world with junk food then putting billions into marketing that makes it impossible to resist.
Whilst an unhealthy food system impacts all of us, it has a disproportionate effect on people living in areas of deprivation.
We can and must redesign that system to protect the health and futures of millions of children.
Bite Back is a youth activist movement and we’re here to challenge the way food is made, marketed and sold, especially to us as young people.
UNDERSTANDING THE FOOD SYSTEM
OUR FOOD SYSTEM IS BROKEN…
7 out of 10 of our biggest global manufacturers make most of their money from selling unhealthy food
They control over 90% of the advertising spend on categories like ice cream, chocolate, biscuits and crisps
Young people see 15 billion junk foods per year in the UK alone
Fast food outlets are twice as likely to be located in low-income areas than high-income areas
WHAT IS THE IMPACT?
THE HEALTH OF A GENERATION IS AT RISK
Already by the age of 11, the health of 1 in 3 children is at risk from food related illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes, tooth decay and obesity.