Professor Tim Lang

 

Tim LangTitle: Professor of Food Policy
Room: C309

Tel: +44 (0)20 7040 8798

Email: t.lang@city.ac.uk

 

 

TIM LANG

BA (Hons) Leeds University

PhD Leeds University

 

 

Positions

Professor of Food Policy

Programme leader for doctoral programme in Food Policy.

 

Work Biography
Tim Lang has been Professor of Food Policy at City University since November 2002. He was Director of the Centre for Food Policy at Thames Valley University from 1994 to 2002, before it moved to City University. He was Director of Parents for Safe Food, 1990-1994 and before that Director of the London Food Commission, 1984 to 1990. In the 1980s, he was a lecturer at Preston and Manchester Polytechnics and from the mid 1970s a hill farmer in Lancashire.

 

Policy involvement

In 2006, he was appointed Natural Resources and Land Use Commissioner on the UK Government’s Sustainable Development Commission. He is a regular advisor / consultant to the World Health Organisation at global and European levels. He has been a special advisor to four House of Commons Select Committee inquiries (food standards [twice], globalisation and obesity). In 2006-07, he was an advisor to the Foresight Obesity programme, and since 2005 has been a member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) ‘Food Supply in the 21st Century’ Working Party and team. He has been a consultant on many occasions for the World Health Organisation, also for the European Commission and Food & Agriculture Organisation. In 2005-06, he chaired the Scottish NHS Executive’s Scottish Diet Action Plan Review. He is a Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health. In 1999-2005 he was Chair of Sustain, the NGO alliance, of which he was a founder member. He has been a Trustee of Friends of the Earth and was Secretary of the Public Health Alliance, predecessor to the UK Public Health Association.

 

Research Interests
His core research interests are on trying to develop a public interest analysis centred on human & environmental health, social justice and consumer rights, and analysing the tensions in food policy between competing interests from the state, supply chain and civil society. He has a long interest in exploring issues such as food security, food inequalities and the differentiation between food democracy and food control. He is interested in tensions between national, European and global levels of policy-making.

 

Academic Role

He is on Editorial Advisory Boards for 3 international journals: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (since 1998), Food Service Technology (since 2000) and International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability (since 2002). He is a member of the WHO’s Virtual Network of Experts on the Implementation of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health since August 2005. He was a member of the Advisory Board of the ESRC / AHRC Cultures of Consumption programme, 2002-2006.

 

Publications
He is author and co-author of over 120 publications, including 8 books (another in preparation), numerous reports for international bodies and academic journal articles. Since 2002, he has written a monthly column in The Grocer as well as occasional pieces for outlets such as The Times, The Guardian, THES and other media.
 
Publications (since 2001)

 

Books:

Gabriel, Yiannis, Tim Lang (2006). The Unmanageable Consumer: Contemporary Consumption and its Fragmentation. London: Sage (2nd edition; 1st edition 1995)

 

Lang, Tim, Michael Heasman (2004). Food Wars: the battle for mouths, minds and markets. London: Earthscan

 

Millstone, Erik and Tim Lang, eds. (2003). The Atlas of Food. London: Earthscan (& New York: Penguin & Paris: Autrement) [winner André Simon Food Book of the Year 2003]

 

Journal articles / papers / editorials /etc.:

  • Lang T (2007). ‘Functional Foods’. British Medical Journal, 334, 1015-6. May 19.   doi: 10.1136/bmj.39212.592477.BE
  • T. Lang, G. Rayner (2007). ‘Overcoming policy cacophony on obesity: an ecological public health framework for policymakers’, Obesity Reviews, 8 (s1), 165–181.
    doi:10.1111/j.1467-789X.2007.00338.x
  • http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2007.00338.x
  • Wrieden WL, Anderson AS, Longbottom PJ, Valentine K, Stead M, Caraher M, Lang T, Gray B, Dowler E (2007). ‘The impact of a community-based food skills intervention on cooking confidence, food preparation methods and dietary choices - an exploratory trial’, Public Health Nutrition, 10, 2, February 2007, 203-211 doi: 10.1017/S1368980007246658
    http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FPHN%2FPHN10_02%2FS1368980007246658a.pdf&code=0fd7499ee9545f1383c2e95bce65491e
  • Rayner, Geof, Corinna Hawkes, Tim Lang, Walden Bello (2006). Trade liberalization and the diet transition: a public health response. Health Promotion International, 21(Supplement 1):67-74; doi:10.1093/heapro/dal053    http://www.heapro.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/21/suppl_1/67      or http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/hpr_special%20issue.pdf
  • Lang T (2006). ‘Food, the law and public health: Three models of the relationship’, Public Health, 120, October, 30-41 doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2006.07.013
    http://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/uploadedFiles/Grants/Lang_30-40.pdf
  • Heasman M, Lang, T, (2006). ‘Plotting the Future of Food: putting ecologically driven, community-based food policy at the heart of Canada’s food economy’. Making Waves, 17, 2, summer, 2-17 http://www.cedworks.com/files/pdf/free/MW170212.pdf
  • Lang T, Heasman M (2005). ‘Food Wars’, Food International Executive Outlook, 5, 1, 26-41
  • Hewson C, T Lang (2005). 'Human and animal health: strengthening the links: Animal and human case for reforming current food policies’, British Medical Journal, 331, 1268 (26 November)
  • Lang T, Rayner G (2005).  'Obesity: a growing issue for European policy?'  Journal of European Social Policy, 15, 4, 301-327 doi: 10.1177/0958928705057263 
  • Lang T (2005). ‘Food Control or Food Democracy?: re-engaging nutrition to civil society, the state and the food supply chain’, Public Health Nutrition, 8, 6A, 730-737 DOI: 10.1079/PHN2005772   http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cabi/phn/2005/00000008/I0010si6/art00011
  • Pretty JN, Ball AS, Lang T, Morison JIL, (2005) ‘Farm Costs and Food Miles: An Assessment of the Full Cost of the UK Weekly Food Basket’, Food Policy, 30, 1, 1-20
  • Lang T, Rayner G, Rayner M, Barling D, Millstone E (2005). ‘Policy Councils on Food, Nutrition & Physical Activity: the UK as a case study’, Public Health Nutrition, 8, 1, 11-19.   DOI: 10.1079/PHN2004654
    http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FPHN%2FPHN8_01%2FS1368980005000042a.pdf&code=ab684a21159e63ddbb451e4f5abcf862
  • Lang T, Heasman M (2004). ‘Diet and Nutrition Policy: A clash of ideas or an investment?’, Development, 47, 2, June, pp 64-74 DOI: 10.1057/palgrave.development.1100031
  • Lang, T (2004). ‘European Agricultural Policy: is health the missing link?’, Eurohealth, 10, 1, 4-8
  • Lang T (2003). ‘Editorial: FAO-WHO Launch expert Report’, Public Health Nutrition, 6 (4), 323-325
  • Lang, T. (2003). ‘Food Industrialisation and Food Power: Implications for Food Governance’, Development Policy Review, 21, 5-6, 555-568. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8659.2003.00223.x  http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/dpr/2003/00000021/F0020005/art00002
  • Lang T, Rayner G (2003). ‘Food and Health Strategy in the UK: A Policy Impact Analysis’, Political Quarterly, 74, 1, 66-75 DOI: 10.1111/1467-923X.00513
  • Barling D, Lang T (2003). ‘The Politics of Food’, Political Quarterly, 74, 1, 4-7 DOI: 10.1111/1467-923X.00506
  • Barling D, Lang T (2003). ‘A Reluctant Food Policy?: The First Five Years of Food Policy under Labour’, Political Quarterly, 74, 1, 8-18. DOI: 10.1111/1467-923X.00507
  • Barling D, Lang T, Caraher M (2002). ‘Joined-up Food Policy? The trials of Governance, Public Policy and the Food System, Social Policy & Administration, 36, 6, 556-575
  • Rayner G, Lang T (2002). 'Public Health after globalisation: injecting health into the post-Washington consensus', Eurohealth, 8, 3, 21-25
  • Lang T, Caraher M (2001). Is there a culinary skills transition?: data and debate from the UK about changes in cooking culture. Journal of the Home Economics Institute of Australia, 8, 2, 2-14
  • Lang T, Barling D, Caraher M (2001). 'Food, Social Policy and the Environment: Towards a New Model', Social Policy and Administration, 35, 5, 538-558
  • Lang T (2001). 'Public Health and colonialism: a new or old problem?', Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 55, 162-163
  • Hare C, Kirk D, Lang T (2001). ‘The food shopping of older consumers in Scotland: critical incidents’, International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management. 29, 1, 25-40
  • Lang T (2001). 'Putting Policy into Practice: a commentary on the report of Eurodiet working party 4', Public Health Nutrition, 4, 1(A), February, 112-113.

 

Reports & Papers:

  • Davis, Laura; Elizabeth Dowler; David Hunter; Tim Lang; Kevin Morgan; Veronica Barry (2007). Food and Well Being: A Review of the Nutrition Strategy for Wales 2003-2006. Final Report, May 2007. Report to Food Standards Agency Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government. Coventry: University of Warwick.
  • Lang T, Dowler E, Hunter DJ (2006). Review of the Scottish Diet Action Plan 1996-2005: progress and impacts. Chair: T Lang. Report 2005/ 2006 RE036.  Edinburgh: NHS Health Scotland. http://www.healthscotland.com/understanding/evaluation/policy-reviews/review-diet-action.aspx
  • Lang T, Rayner G (2006). Obesity Policy: a framework for intervention. A Briefing for Foresight Obesity programme. London: Office of Science & Technology
  • Lang T (2006) Agriculture, Food, and Health: Perspectives on a Long Relationship, Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute 2020 Focus Brief no 2. May http://www.ifpri.org/2020/focus/focus13.asp#dl
  • Lang T, Rayner G, Kaelin E (2006). The Food Industry, Diet, Physical Activity and Health: a review of reported commitments and practice of 25 of the world’s largest food companies. Report to World Health Organisation.  London: Centre for Food Policy, City University.  April
  • Lang T, Rayner G, Kaelin E, Crossley R, Backman P (2005). The Food Industry, Diet, Physical Activity and Health: a review of reported commitments and practice of 25 of the world’s largest food companies. A report to the World Health Organisation. London: Centre for Food Policy, City University.  December.
  • Lang T (2004). Food and Health Wars: a modern drama of consumer sovereignty, Economic & Social Research Council & Arts & Humanities Research Board Cultures of Consumption Programme, Cultures of Consumption Working Paper no 14. London: Birkbeck College, June, 39pp  http://www.consume.bbk.ac.uk/working_papers/Lang%20talk%20final.doc
  • Barling D, Lang T (2003).  Codex, the European Union and Developing Countries:  an analysis of developments in international food standards setting.  Report of Dept for International Development.  London:  City University Institute of Health Sciences
  • Lang T (2003), ‘Injecting Health into the CAP’ in Elinde L.S. Public health aspects of the EU Common Agricultural Policy. Stockholm: National Institute of Public Health / Statens Folkhalsoinstitut pp 91-96 http://www.fhi.se/shop/material_pdf/eu_inlaga.pdf
  • Hitchman C, Harrison M, Christie I, Lang T (2002). Inconvenience Food. London: Demos
  • Hawkes C, Lang T, Caraher M (2002). Trade Liberalization and Malnutrition. Background Paper for United Nations ACC/SCN. Centre for Food Policy. March (available from the Sub-Committee on Nutrition).
  • Lang T, Rayner G, eds (2002). Why Health is the key to Farming and Food. London: UK Public Health Association, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health Medicine, National Heart Forum and Health Development Agency
  • Lang T, Robertson A, Nishida C, Caraher M, Clutterbuck C (2001). Intersectoral food and nutrition policy development: A Manual for Decision-makers. Report E73104. Copenhagen: World Health Organisation.
  • Lobstein T, Millstone E, Lang T, van Zwanenberg P (2001). The Lessons of Phillips Questions the UK Government should be asking in response  to Lord Phillips’ Inquiry into BSE. A Discussion Paper. London: Food Commission/Centre for Food Policy/Science Policy Research Unit University of Sussex.

 

Chapters in books:

  • Lang, Tim and Martin Caraher (2006). Influencing international policy. In: D Pencheon, C Guest, D Melzer, J A M Gray Oxford Handbook of Public Health Practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 364-371
  • Lang, Tim (2006). ‘Achieving Access to Ethical Food: Animal and Human Health Come Together’ In: Jacky Turner and Joyce d’Silva, eds. Animals, Ethics and Trade: the Challenge of Animal Sentience. London: Earthscan. 261-272
  • Lang, Tim (2006) ‘What is Food and Farming For? - The (Re)emergence of Health as a Key Policy Driver’  In: Frederick H. Buttel and Philip McMichael (eds)  New Directions in the Sociology of Global Development, New York: Elsevier Rural Sociology and Development series, vol 11, 123-144
  • Lang, Tim & Yiannis Gabriel (2005). ‘A Brief History of Consumer Activism’ In: Rob Harrison, Terry Newholm, Deidre Shaw, eds, The Ethical Consumer. London: Sage. 39-53
  • Lang T (2005). ‘Food, trade and health’ In:  J Pomerleau, M McKee, eds, Issues in Public Health. Maidenhead: Open University Press. 191-208
  • Caraher, Martin, John Coveney & Tim Lang (2005) ‘Food, Health and Globalisation: is health promotion still relevant?’ In: A. Scriven & S Garman, eds. Promoting Health: Global Perspectives. Basingstoke: Palgrave. 90-105
  • Barling D, Lang T (2005).  'Trading on health: north-south production/consumption tenions and the governance of international food standards' In: N. Fold & B. Pritchard eds.  Cross continental food commodity chains.  London:  Routledge. 39-51
  • Lang, Tim (2002) ‘Can the challenges of poverty, sustainable consumption and good health governance be addressed in an era of globalization?’ In: Benjamin Cabellero and Barry Popkin, eds, The Nutrition Transition. New York: Elsevier, 51-70
  • Barling D, Lang, T, Caraher M (2003). ‘Joined-up Food Policy? The Trials of Governance, Public Policy and the Food System’ in Dowler, E, Finer, C, eds. In Elizabeth Dowler, Catherine Jones Finer, eds. The Welfare of Food: Rights and Responsibilities in a Changing World. Oxford: Blackwell
  • Lang T, Barling D, Caraher M (2002). 'Food, Social Policy and the Environment: Towards a New Model', chapter 6 in: Cahill M, Fitzpatrick T, eds. Environmental Issues and Social Welfare Oxford: Blackwell. 70-91
  • Lang, Tim (2001).‘Trade, public health and food’ In: M McKee, P Garner & R Stott, eds, International Co-operation in Health. Oxford: Oxford University Press,  81-108
  • Lang T, Caraher M (2001). ‘International Public Health’ In: D Pencheon, D Melzer, eds. Oxford Textbook of Public Health. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 168-176