The Council of Food Policy Advisors has published its second report to the government, recommending that efforts to promote healthy diets and environmentally sustainable food production should focus on the power of consumer demand to bring about change.

Food: a recipe for a healthy, sustainable, and successful future also calls for a debate about land use in the UK in order to find the best way to balance the needs of agriculture with other demands such as housing, energy and infrastructure.

In addition, the council highlighted the importance of the food sector in economic strategies, as well as the need for continued research and development across the entire food chain.

Dame Suzi Leather, chair of the Council of Food Policy Advisors, said: “The Council is pleased to present this, our second report, to ministers.

“With the publication of Food 2030 - the UK’s most significant statement of food policy in 40 years - the government has set out a long-term strategy. The focus now must be on implementation.

“The food sector is large, it is essential to the economy and it has a major role in tackling health issues and climate change. The pressing need to create a viable food system for people and the planet requires that food policy is high in the priorities of any government.”

YouGov SixthSense reports that over half of adults in the UK (55 per cent) snack on fresh fruit in between meals. Less healthy options are not completely dismissed, however, with 45 per cent of respondents admitting to snacking on biscuits, 43 per cent on crisps and bagged snacks and 41 per cent on chocolate.

Children are also keen on fresh fruit, which tops the snack league table at 69 per cent, compared to crisps at 64 per cent and chocolates and sweets at 61 per cent, although the results are likely to reflect parental choice.

James McCoy, research director for YouGov SixthSense, said: “Whether or not children would actually choose fresh fruit over crisps or chocolate if given the choice is irrelevant. The mere fact that fruit comes top of the list suggests a strong awareness among children of what constitutes healthy eating.”

The council’s report was published as Dame Suzi Leather announced that she was stepping down from the role due to “other commitments”. She will be succeeded on an interim basis by Iain Ferguson, the chairman of Wilton Park Conference Centre and former chief executive of Tate and Lyle.

Following the publication of the report, a review of the council’s work to date is to be undertaken. It will assess the input of the council and what role it can continue to play in the development of food policy.