Sugar tax could aid obesity fight: Health agency

In a pre-budget submission earlier this year, the Irish Heart Foundation called for a 20 per cent tax on sugar-sweetened drinks.

A report by Public Health England has been released today and it recommends a 20 per cent sugar tax should be introduced, as well as cutting buy-one-get-one-free deals. “We do not agree that the global evidence supports the introduction of a sugar tax and for this reason would oppose such a move”, said Ian Wright, director general of the Food and Drink Federation.

It has been suggested that the rejection of the proposal was due to the fact that the tax was considered to be a “blunt weapon” which would punish low-income families.

However, the long-term impact of the tax was unclear.

The Prime Minister has ruled out a sugar tax despite advise from the Government’s own experts that it could help tackle childhood obesity.

He said: ” Dr Tedstone was clear at the health select committee that there is no silver bullet solution to nation’s excessive sugar consumption.

Professor Sheila Hollins, chairwoman of the British Medical Association’s board of science, said: “Doctors are increasingly concerned about the impact of poor diet, which is responsible for up to 70,000 deaths a year, and has the greatest impact on the NHS budget, costing £6bn annually”.

While a sugar tax would no doubt play a big role in addressing the problem, the Government has to start somewhere.

Maybe the Department of Health should be speaking to the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education when it comes to tackling obesity and not trying to suppress scientific research into sugar-tax.

Such drinks account for less than 2% of our calorie intake and there are all manner of other sugary and fatty foods people should cut down on.

The report has now been sent to government ministers for consideration, although Prime Minister David Cameron has previously said the government had no plans to introduce a tax on sugar.

Last week, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was accused of hiding the findings of the PHE report which was teased to MPs on Wednesday.

The report said the main sources of sugar include soft drinks, table sugar, confectionery, fruit juice, biscuits, buns, cakes, pastries and puddings and breakfast cereals. So-called “hidden sugars” are often listed as glucose, sucrose or fructose and it can sometimes be hard to tell if sugar content is natural or added.

Children and young people consume 3 times the recommended amount of sugar on average, with adults consuming more than double.

Oliver said: “I’m excited and relieved that we finally got to see Public Health England’s courageous, forward-thinking report and its excellent recommendations such as a proposed sugar levy, cutting down on the advertising of high sugar food, all of which are powerful weapons in improving our children’s health”.

Ban on advertising: The campaign group has also asked companies to stop advertising sugary drinks and snacks to children.