Tackling malnutrition in older people living at home in Scotland

Policy Influencing

Our Policy Influencing work is broad and diverse. It aims to demonstrate to key stakeholders (including civil servants and MSPs) why policy change is necessary in relation to malnutrition.


Eat Well Age Well have responded to multiple Government and Private Members Bill consultations as part of Food Train.

A Right to Food is not currently enshrined into Scots Law. We responded to Elaine Smith MSP’s Private Member’s Bill on the Proposed Right to Food (Scotland) Bill. Read our response here

This bill has now been taken over by Rhoda Grant MSP. In the new parliamentary term we responded to Rhoda Grant MSP’s Private Members Bill on the Proposed Right To Food (Scotland) Bill in 2022. . Read our response here

We responded to the consultation of the Falls and Fracture Prevention Strategy Scotland (2019-2024) arguing the need for a stronger focus around nutrition and food access, e.g., through food shopping support as a preventative approach to falls. Read our response here.

We responded to the SNAP 2 consultation arguing there was a significant omission in the proposal: the right to food. Read our response here .

In Nov 2021 on behalf of Food Train, we responded to the Scottish Government’s National Care Service Consultation, arguing for the importance of food to be recognised in social care. Our key points were based on our 4 Calls to Action. Read our response to the consultation here.

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill .

The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 7th October 2021. Eat Well Age Well (on behalf of Food Train) submitted written evidence to the Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee on this Bill. Read our evidence here.

In January 2022 we were invited to give oral evidence to the committee, our Impact and Policy Officer represented Food Train and a full recording of the evidence session can be found here.


As well as written responses to Government Consultations, Eat Well Age Well work to influence policy in other ways:
  • Eat Well Age Well are a member of the UK Malnutrition Awareness and Prevention Network (MAPN). In 2020 we co-signed a letter to all 4 nation Health Secretaries calling for action on the prevention of malnutrition

  • In March 2020, Food Train CEO Michelle Carruthers and Eat Well Age Well Project Manager, Laura Cairns, wrote an article for Policy Scotland alongside Dr Kate Reid and Prof. Catherine Lido from the University of Glasgow discussing Food Train’s initial response to the Covid-19 pandemic and hopes for policy change read here

Read more about Policy Context in Scotland

Read more about our 4 Calls to Action

View our Press and Media coverage