2025-02-132024/25:SoU12 · p.8SoUHealth & social services
Healthy food consumption and related matters
Healthy and sustainable food consumption
What's at stake: What we eat affects both public health and the environment, and children and young people in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are highlighted as a particular target group. The decision affects how quickly concrete policy instruments - for example to lower the sugar and salt content of food - can be put in place.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether parliament should now decide on new policy instruments and a dedicated strategy for healthier, more sustainable food consumption - for example to reduce sugar intake - or whether the ongoing agency work on targets, dietary guidelines and agreements with the food industry should be allowed to continue first.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee recommends rejecting the motions. The committee notes that the Public Health Agency and the Food Agency reported back in February 2024 on a joint government commission on sustainable and healthy food consumption, proposing a coordinated structure of national targets, sub-targets and areas of action, together with a supplementary commission on children's and young people's food consumption focused on groups with weaker socioeconomic conditions. The Food Agency has also reported on a commission to reach an industry agreement on lowering salt and sugar content, and updated dietary guidelines are expected shortly. In view of this ongoing work, together with the government's announced investment in physical activity on prescription, the committee does not see a need for parliament to take further action.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 10 (MP)
The reservation (MP) highlights the concept of 'one health' - a balance between the health of people, animals and nature - which it argues should run through all relevant legislation, as well as the concept of 'food environment', concerning how the physical and social environment shapes our food choices. It calls for the government to take forward the proposals in the agency report on sustainable and healthy food consumption through a dedicated strategy, for the Public Health Agency and the Food Agency to be tasked with developing a formalised coordination function, preferably in cooperation with the Nordic countries, and for the government to investigate effective policy instruments for reducing the amount of sugar in food.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 10 by MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 87/0/0/19 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/14/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 54/0/0/14 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:2990 by Markus Wiechel and Victoria Tiblom (both SD) demand 1 and 2024/25:3055 by Ulrika Westerlund et al. (MP) demands 1, 72-76 and 78.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:2990 av Markus Wiechel och Victoria Tiblom (båda SD) yrkande 1 och 2024/25:3055 av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 1, 72-76 och 78.
Riksdag decision: Parliament rejected approximately 120 proposals on public health in motions from the regular motion period in 2024. Parliament primarily refers to the fact that work is already underway in the areas that the proposals address. The motions concern, among other things, healthy living habits, vaccinations and mental health.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants sufficient and relevant health data to be collected to reduce social health disparities. (MP) — Reservation 10
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The party programme says that Sweden will need a long-term shift toward more sustainable eating habits and sees healthcare as part of a broader public health work.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme says that Sweden will need a long-term shift toward more sustainable eating habits and sees healthcare as part of a broader public health work. The election manifesto demands that consumption is steered away from the unsustainable and that everyone is given the opportunity to live more sustainably, and the programme wants close Nordic cooperation. A dedicated strategy based on the authority report, a formalized coordination function and explored instruments against sugar is therefore in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet säger att Sverige kommer att behöva ett långsiktigt skifte mot mer hållbara matvanor och ser vården som en del av ett bredare folkhälsoarbete. Valmanifestet kräver att konsumtionen styrs bort från det ohållbara och att alla ges förutsättningar att leva mer hållbart, och programmet vill ett tätt nordiskt samarbete. En egen strategi utifrån myndighetsrapporten, en formaliserad samordningsfunktion och utredda styrmedel mot socker ligger därmed i linje med planen.
- sustainable eating habitsdecisive»ett långsiktigt skifte mot mer hållbara matvanor« (party programme ↗)“a long-term shift toward more sustainable eating habits”
- instruments for consumption»Där inte teknikskiften räcker för att minska utsläppen måste konsumtionen styras bort från det smutsiga och alla ges förutsättningar att leva mer hållbart.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Where technological shifts are not enough to reduce emissions, consumption must be steered away from the dirty and everyone must be given the opportunity to live more sustainably.”
- broad public health policy»Vården behöver ses som en del i det bredare arbetet med folkhälsa.« (party programme ↗)“Healthcare needs to be seen as part of the broader work on public health.”
- Nordic cooperation»Vi vill se ett tätt samarbete mellan de nordiska länderna« (party programme ↗)“We want to see close cooperation between the Nordic countries”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme wants to redirect agricultural and fishing policy with the consumer perspective, not producer interests, as the starting point for a policy where safe food and environmental consideration are fundamental principles, and requires ecologically sustainable agriculture.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants to redirect agricultural and fishing policy with the consumer perspective, not producer interests, as the starting point for a policy where safe food and environmental consideration are fundamental principles, and requires ecologically sustainable agriculture. A comprehensive strategy for sustainable and healthy food consumption, a coordination function in Nordic cooperation and instruments to address sugar follow from these commitments. However, the plan does not mention food environment or sugar instruments.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill lägga om jordbruks- och fiskeripolitiken med konsumentperspektivet, inte producentintresset, som utgångspunkt för en politik där säkra livsmedel och miljöhänsyn är grundprinciper, och kräver ekologiskt uthålligt åkerbruk. En samlad strategi för hållbar och hälsosam livsmedelskonsumtion, en samordningsfunktion i nordisk samverkan och styrmedel mot socker följer av dessa åtaganden. Planen nämner dock inte matmiljö eller sockerstyrmedel.
- consumer perspective firstdecisive»producentintresset, ska vara utgångspunkten för en politik där säkra livsmedel, miljöhänsyn« (party programme ↗)“producer interests, shall be the starting point for a policy where safe food, environmental consideration”
- safe food»kraven på ekologisk uthålligt åkerbruk och säkra livsmedel.« (party programme ↗)“requirements for ecologically sustainable agriculture and safe food.”
- Nordic cooperation»Också det nordiska samarbetet är centralt, liksom samarbetet med de baltiska staterna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Nordic cooperation is also central, as is cooperation with the Baltic states.”
- equal access to health»Tillgången till fritidsaktiviteter till rimliga kostnader, både vad gäller idrott och kultur, behöver öka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Access to recreational activities at reasonable costs, both for sports and culture, needs to increase.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The counter-proposal wants to take the government agency proposals further in its own strategy, establish a coordination function and investigate policy instruments against sugar, with One Health as the starting point.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to take the government agency proposals further in its own strategy, establish a coordination function and investigate policy instruments against sugar, with One Health as the starting point. The plan requires a national public health programme, that consumption with negative climate impact is reduced and that what is harmful shall be expensive and what is too harmful shall be prohibited — which directly supports the requirement for policy instruments. That the health of people, animals and nature are interconnected is also the plan's fundamental view.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill ta myndighetsförslagen vidare i en egen strategi, inrätta en samordningsfunktion och utreda styrmedel mot socker, med one health som utgångspunkt. Planen kräver ett nationellt folkhälsoprogram, att konsumtion med negativ klimatpåverkan minskar och att det som är skadligt ska vara dyrt och det alltför skadliga förbjudas — vilket direkt bär kravet på styrmedel. Att människors, djurs och naturens hälsa hänger samman är också planens grundsyn.
- national public health workdecisive»Vi vill därför se ett nationellt folkhälsoprogram och stödja kommuner och landsting i deras hälsofrämjande arbete.« (party programme ↗)“We therefore want to see a national public health programme and support municipalities and county councils in their health promotion work.”
- policy instruments based on harmfulness»Det som är bra för människor och miljö ska vara billigt, det som är dåligt ska vara dyrt och det som är alltför skadligt ska förbjudas.« (party programme ↗)“What is good for people and environment shall be cheap, what is bad shall be expensive and what is too harmful shall be prohibited.”
- sustainable food consumption»Konsumtion som har negativ klimatpåverkan, såsom fossilt drivna transporter, fossil energi och animalier, måste minska.« (party programme ↗)“Consumption that has negative climate impact, such as fossil-fuelled transport, fossil energy and animal products, must decrease.”
- animals' intrinsic value»Alla djur har ett egenvärde oavsett deras nyttighet för människan.« (party programme ↗)“All animals have intrinsic value regardless of their utility to humans.”
The election manifesto wants to work for more locally produced and climate-smart food and a sustainable agriculture, and the party programme makes nature's cycles the foundation for all human life and sets the goal secure food in accordance with animal protection and environmental consideration.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to work for more locally produced and climate-smart food and a sustainable agriculture, and the party programme makes nature's cycles the foundation for all human life and sets the goal secure food in accordance with animal protection and environmental consideration. The counter-proposal's one health approach and requirement for a strategy for sustainable and healthy food consumption follows from this, while a new coordination function is more weakly founded.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill arbeta för mer närodlad och klimatsmart mat och ett hållbart jordbruk, och partiprogrammet gör naturens kretslopp till grunden för allt mänskligt liv och sätter målet trygga livsmedel i enlighet med djurskydd och miljöhänsyn. Motförslagets one health-ansats och krav på en strategi för hållbar och hälsosam livsmedelskonsumtion följer av detta, medan en ny samordningsfunktion är svagare underbyggd.
- sustainable and locally produced fooddecisive»Vi ska arbeta för mer närodlad och klimatsmart mat och ett levande, hållbart jordbruk som bidrar till den biologiska mångfalden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall work for more locally produced and climate-smart food and a living, sustainable agriculture that contributes to biological diversity.”
- circular thinking»Naturens kretslopp är grunden för allt mänskligt liv.« (party programme ↗)“Nature's cycles are the foundation for all human life.”
- secure food and animal protection»har som mål att skapa tillgång till trygga livsmedel – närproducerade och i enlighet med djurskyddsdirektiven« (party programme ↗)“aims to create access to secure food – locally produced and in accordance with animal protection directives”
- preventive public health»En förutsättning för en hållbar välfärd är ett förebyggande förhållningssätt.« (party programme ↗)“A prerequisite for sustainable welfare is a preventive approach.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme links human, animal and environmental health: how we treat our animals is described as a prerequisite for good public health, antibiotic use shall be responsible among both humans and animals, and in the EU public health shall weigh more heavily than agricultural interests.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme links human, animal and environmental health: how we treat our animals is described as a prerequisite for good public health, antibiotic use shall be responsible among both humans and animals, and in the EU public health shall weigh more heavily than agricultural interests. The counter-proposal's one-health approach and demand for a strategy and coordination aligns with this. The plan at the same time emphasizes the individual's own responsibility for their living habits, which makes the support weak.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet knyter samman människors, djurs och naturens hälsa: hur vi hanterar våra djur beskrivs som en förutsättning för en god folkhälsa, antibiotikaanvändningen ska vara ansvarsfull både bland människor och på djur, och i EU ska folkhälsan väga tyngre än jordbruksintressen. Motförslagets one health-ansats och krav på en strategi och samordning ligger i linje med detta. Planen betonar samtidigt individens eget ansvar för sina levnadsvanor, vilket gör stödet svagt.
- animal health and public health are connecteddecisive»Hur vi hanterar våra djur är ett mått på vår civilisation och en förutsättning för en god folkhälsa.« (party programme ↗)“How we treat our animals is a measure of our civilization and a prerequisite for good public health.”
- public health before agricultural interests»I EU ska hänsynen till folkhälsan väga tyngre än jordbruksintressen.« (party programme ↗)“In the EU, consideration of public health shall weigh more heavily than agricultural interests.”
- responsible antibiotic use»ansvarsfull antibiotikaanvändning, både bland människor och på djur« (party programme ↗)“responsible antibiotic use, among both humans and animals”
- knowledge about living habits»levnadsvanorna påverkar hälsan ska förmedlas från skolåldern och uppåt.« (party programme ↗)“how living habits affect health shall be conveyed from school age and upward.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan asserts that public health work must not be confined to healthcare but requires shared responsibility and cooperation between societal actors, and that health in a broad sense encompasses everything from diet and exercise to external environment.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan asserts that public health work must not be confined to healthcare but requires shared responsibility and cooperation between societal actors, and that health in a broad sense encompasses everything from diet and exercise to external environment. The stewardship principle must guide food supply design and also the relationship to animals. A dedicated strategy, a coordination function and instruments against sugar follow from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att folkhälsoarbetet inte får inskränkas till hälso- och sjukvården utan kräver gemensamt ansvarstagande och samverkan mellan samhällsaktörer, och att hälsa i vid mening omfattar allt från kost och motion till yttre miljö. Förvaltarskapsprincipen ska vägleda livsmedelsförsörjningen och även förhållandet till djuren. En egen strategi, en samordningsfunktion och styrmedel mot socker följer av dessa åtaganden.
- broad public health responsibility and cooperationdecisive»utan kräver ett gemensamt ansvarstagande och samverkan mellan olika samhällsaktörer.« (party programme ↗)“but requires shared responsibility and cooperation between different societal actors.”
- health in broad sense»Hälsa, i vid mening allt från kost och motion till« (party programme ↗)“Health, in a broad sense everything from diet and exercise to”
- stewardship in food policy»Förvaltarskapsprincipen ska vara vägledande vid utformandet av en säker livsmedelsförsörjning.« (party programme ↗)“The stewardship principle must guide the design of secure food supply.”
- stewardship toward animals»ska präglas av förvaltarskap, så att djuren behandlas med respekt och omtanke.« (party programme ↗)“must be characterized by stewardship, so that animals are treated with respect and care.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The counter-proposal wants a broad health concept to permeate all relevant legislation and that control measures against sugar are investigated.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants a broad health concept to permeate all relevant legislation and that control measures against sugar are investigated. The plan rejects that type of finger-wagging in everyday consumption choices, emphasizes personal responsibility for health and has moreover promised a tax-hike cap that excludes new consumption-regulating levies. Politics' task according to the plan is to prioritize and choose, not to expand new coordination functions.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill att ett brett hälsobegrepp genomsyrar all relevant lagstiftning och att styrmedel mot socker utreds. Planen avvisar den typen av pekpinnar i vardagens konsumtionsval, betonar det egna ansvaret för hälsan och har dessutom lovat ett skattehöjarstopp som utesluter nya konsumtionsstyrande pålagor. Politikens uppgift är enligt planen att prioritera och välja bort, inte att bygga ut nya samordningsfunktioner.
- no to finger-wagging politicsdecisive»Där miljöbovar betalar för sig, men du kan unna dig en plastpåse när du veckohandlar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Where environmental villains pay for themselves, but you can afford yourself a plastic bag when you do your weekly shopping.”
- personal responsibility for health»Men inte ens en sjukvård i världsklass kan ersätta det egna« (party programme ↗)“But not even world-class healthcare can replace the personal”
- no new levies»Införa ett skattehöjarstopp under den kommande mandatperioden som innebär att de samlade skatterna inte höjs« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a tax-hike cap during the coming term period that means total taxes are not raised”
- politics shall prioritize»Politiken har en viktig uppgift att prioritera och välja bort,« (party programme ↗)“Politics has an important task to prioritize and choose,”
The party programme rejects a one-sided focus on punishment of undesired lifestyles and the election manifesto establishes that the individual should make their own choices without the state steering them.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme rejects a one-sided focus on punishment of undesired lifestyles and the election manifesto establishes that the individual should make their own choices without the state steering them. Regulatory measures to reduce sugar content in food and a new formalized coordination function contradict that, and contradict the plan's requirement for fewer authorities and minimal bureaucracy. The plan recognizes food's importance for health but prescribes quality and knowledge rather than regulatory measures.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet avvisar ett ensidigt fokus på bestraffningar av oönskade levnadssätt och valmanifestet slår fast att individen ska göra sina egna val utan att det offentliga styr dem. Styrmedel för att minska sockermängden i maten och en ny formaliserad samordningsfunktion går emot det, och emot planens krav på färre myndigheter och ett minimum av byråkrati. Planen erkänner matens betydelse för hälsan men anvisar kvalitet och kunskap snarare än styrmedel.
- not punish lifestylesdecisive»inte genom ett ensidigt fokus på bestraffningar av oönskade levnadssätt hos enskilda« (party programme ↗)“not through a one-sided focus on punishment of undesired lifestyles in individuals”
- individual's free choice»Varje individ ska stå fri att göra sina egna val och forma sina egna liv, utan att det offentliga ska styra dessa val.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Every individual should be free to make their own choices and shape their own lives, without the state steering these choices.”
- fewer authorities»Stoppa slöseriet inom myndigheterna och slå samman myndigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop government waste and merge authorities”
- food's importance for health»Maten vi äter har en stor inverkan på vår hälsa och livskvalitet.« (party programme ↗)“The food we eat has a major impact on our health and quality of life.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:SoU12)
- Committee report full text (HC01SoU12)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1064 — Musik som resurs mot psykisk ohälsa och suicidprevention av Cecilia Engström (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1094 — Tydliggörande av orsakerna till psykisk ohälsa hos barn av Marléne Lund Kopparklint m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1272 — TBE-vaccination för fler av Åsa Westlund och Mathias Tegnér (båda S)
- Motion 2024/25:1357 — Astma- och allergivården i Sverige av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1360 — En kvalitativ cancervård i framkant av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1362 — En stärkt psykisk hälsa i hela landet av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1363 — En tillgänglig sjukvård i världsklass av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1364 — Folkhälsan i fokus av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1403 — En human sjukförsäkring med individen i centrum av Clara Aranda m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1507 — Ökad användning av häst åt fler av Alexandra Anstrell och Anna af Sillén (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1681 — Gratis TBE-vaccin för barn och unga under 18 år av Louise Thunström och Sofia Skönnbrink (båda S)
- Motion 2024/25:1754 — Politik för samer av Jan Riise m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1818 — Kunskap om det manliga klimakteriet av Peter Ollén (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1826 — Friluftsliv i vård och omsorg av Emma Ahlström Köster och Kristina Axén Olin (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1905 — En starkare folkhälsa av Karin Rågsjö m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1923 — En bättre hälso- och sjukvård av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1957 — Konsumtion av frukt och grönt av Cecilia Engström (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1964 — Förbättrad psykisk hälsa för transpersoner av Margareta Cederfelt (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1973 — Lex Rebecka - våga leva av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1974 — Lex Rebecka - en psykiatrivård som räddar liv av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
Source: The Swedish Parliament