Health campaigners are calling for processed foods high in fat and sugar to be taxed to help encourage product reformulation by manufacturers and tackle the UK’s obesity crisis.
Action on Sugar and Action on Salt say the government to should introduce a levy on all calorie dense processed foods that meet an agreed criteria, similar to the soft drinks sugar tax rolled out last year.
They believe that this would encourage product reformulation to reduce both fat, in particular saturated fat, as well as sugar in unhealthy products. It is suggested that funds raised from the levy could be ring-fenced to go towards improving children’s health.
Graham MacGregor, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London and Chairman of Action on Sugar and Action on Salt said: “The UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy has been remarkable and unique in that it allows for significant product reformulation by manufacturers in order to avoid paying the levy. This has already resulted in a much bigger reduction of sugar content of drinks in the UK than originally anticipated, as well as ring fencing £340m of income directly from manufacturers, not the public, to spend on improving children’s health.
“The same could be achieved in creating a levy to reduce excess calories but we need a firm commitment from HM Treasury and The Department of Health and Social Care to make this a reality and to implement a robust evaluation system to fill in the evidence gaps. This levy should be invested back in a much more comprehensive approach to prevent obesity in children.”
Katharine Jenner, Campaign Director of Action on Sugar and Action on Salt, added: “Manufacturers are simply not doing enough. If the government is really committed to helping the less well off, they need to tackle the food industry and a feasibility study needs to be undertaken without delay. An ‘excess calorie levy’ would encourage manufacturers to improve the nutritional quality of their unhealthy foods and most importantly, tackle the thousands who suffer the consequences of a poor diet.”
NAM Implications:
- A logical and inevitable move…
- …which if health economics are factored in (i.e. cost of long term hospital man-days vs. tax generated)
- …the government can then optimise the mix i.e. raise taxes to a point that covers anticipated bed costs…
