Jamie Oliver: Cameron must be ‘brave’ over sugar tax

The TV chef also called for a tax on sugar, praising David Cameron for reviewing the current food policy.

“The television chef was speaking before the Commons Health Select Committee today (October 19), when he said that prior governments had done the public an “incredible disservice” by leaving unhealthy foods untaxed”.

‘I am massively passionate that British people, if given clear information, make good choices. The Department of Health has said the review will be published at the same time as the Government’s new strategy to reduce childhood obesity.

He said the Government had not written off a “sugar tax” as a way of driving down childhood obesity – and urged David Cameron to “be brave” in standing up to the bosses of junk food companies. “I think it’s a major problem”.

“I know that Mr Cameron thinks it is incredibly important”, he said.

Oliver said one of the most important thing was a government “that’s willing to fight tooth and nail for public health and child health”.

And despite Government claims that they will not do it, he says ministers have not given on plans for a sugar tax which could raise up to a £1billion a year if introduced at 20 percent.

But said it would send out a strong message: “We should be big and bold”.

“Is it the businesses who are profiting in ill health in our children or is it us?”

NHS chiefs say adults should not have more than six or seven teaspoons but campaigners say fizzy drinks have an average of nine and sometimes as much as 14 teaspoons of sugar. “Industry must be kept in line and it mustn’t run this country”, Oliver insisted.

The TV star has been campaigning for a levy of sugary drinks, amassing nearly 150,000 signatures of a petition demanding a Commons debate.

Dr Sarah Wollaston, chair of the committee, said the decision would give the public and independent experts no opportunity to review the evidence or contribute to the Government’s planning, and accused Mr Selbie of setting “that a risky precedent to set and rather a patronising one”.