Sugar tax could be part of obesity plan

Friday June 27th, 2014

British government advisers are to investigate a sugar tax - as well as new restrictions on advertising to children - as part of a drive to tackle obesity, it was announced yesterday.

Public Health England will also reconsider current advice on portion sizes, it said.

The moves follow the publication of draft advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.

This calls for more fibre in the diet and reductions in sugars together with the minimum consumption of sugary soft drinks.

Advisory committee chair Dr Ann Prentice said: “There is strong evidence in the report to show that if people were to have less free sugars and more fibre in their diet they would lower their risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer.

“For their health, people need to consume a balanced diet which includes carbohydrate-rich foods that are low in free sugars and high in fibre.”

Public Health England chief nutritionist Dr Alison Tedstone said: "Eating too much sugar is harming our health; excess sugar and calorie intake leads to being overweight and obese and consequently having a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and breast and colon cancer."

The proposals were welcomed by the British Heart Foundation.

Chief executive Simon Gillespie said: “We need to stop food manufacturers bombarding families with advertising promoting products high in sugar, fats, and salt. The Government should introduce a 9pm watershed ban and consistent regulation across all media to protect children from being tempted into unhealthy choices.

“A sugar tax on sweetened drinks could also help us make major in-roads into tackling this serious public health concern.”

* Proposals for introducing standardised packages for tobacco products were published yesterday by the government.

Tags: Diabetes | Diet & Food | UK News

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