Big Food is feeling the heat. Dolly van Tulleken Is Joining Bite Back.

She’s been a leading voice on food policy, child health and political change and a long-term supporter of the youth movement Bite Back is building.

She’s a visiting Researcher at Cambridge University’s MRC Epidemiology Unit where she completed her PhD on UK Government obesity policy. Through her work at Dolitics Ltd, she advises on food systems, ultra-processed food and how we shift the political conversation around health to advance food environment regulation that protects child health.

"If Bite Back had a fan club, I’d be a founding member.

I’ve long admired the incredible momentum Bite Back has built since 2019. Their youth activists have inspired my own work. I’ve seen firsthand the effectiveness of its youth movement in influencing government policy - getting politicians to care about food policy and freeing young people from the harms of Big Food.

Politicians and other senior policymakers and advisors have told me directly how influential Bite Back has been to them and their colleagues, and I know how essential it is to place youth at the centre of policy change.

It will be an immense honour to work side by side with these young leaders as we continue to build youth power for a more just food system. I’m thrilled to join at such a pivotal moment and I can’t wait to meet the team and get started."

Across the country, young activists are fighting for better school food, challenging junk food marketing, and demanding healthier environments for every child - no matter where they live.

Because right now, unhealthy food is still flooding our high streets, dominating our screens and shaping young people’s health every single day. That’s not fair. And it doesn’t have to stay this way.

The good news? Change is possible and young people are already making it happen.

Since launching six years ago, Bite Back has helped secure major wins for child health. From campaigning to extend Free School Meals during the pandemic to pushing forward restrictions on junk food advertising online and before 9pm on TV.

Now we’re building even more youth power.

D’Arcy Williams, Chief Executive of Bite Back, said:

“I mean - what a moment! We are thrilled about this announcement, and what this means for the next chapter of Bite Back and our young campaigners’ ability to continue driving systemic change in the UK food system and beyond. Dolly is a respected giant in the world of food policy, and this appointment should make Big Food quiver in their boots.

I’m proud of the fact that Bite Back’s Youth Board was at the heart of this decision, and I know they are buzzing to start collaborating with Dolly.”

Former Chair Baroness Anne Longfield added:

"I am absolutely delighted to congratulate Dr. Dolly van Tulleken on her appointment as Chair of Trustees. She is joining an organisation with extraordinary momentum and an inspiring group of young leaders who are currently driving the essential fight to improve child health across the UK.

Dr. van Tulleken is one of the UK’s leading voices in food policy and a fierce campaigner. I wish her all the best in her new role."

And we couldn’t agree more.

Welcome to Bite Back, Dolly.

Let’s keep showing our teeth to the giants.