New food strategy calls for sugar and salt reformulation tax

Britain must change what it eats and the way it produces food to stop “terrible damage” to people’s health and the environment, a government commissioned report said on Thursday, urging meals with more vegetables and fruit and less fat, sugar and salt.

Seeking to curb widespread obesity and protect the NHS, the National Food Strategy’s independent report calls for the introduction of a sugar and salt reformulation tax, with the revenue used to expand free school meals and support the diets of those living in deprived parts of Britain.

It said current eating habits are destroying the environment, which in turn threatens Britain’s food security.

“The way we produce food is doing terrible damage to the environment and to our bodies, and putting an intolerable strain on the National Health Service,” said the report’s author Henry Dimbleby.

“Covid-19 has been a painful reality check. Our high obesity rate has been a major factor in the UK’s tragically high death rate. We must now seize the moment to build a better food system for our children and grandchildren.”

The report, commissioned by the government in 2019, urges food education to be central to the national curriculum, and for food standards to be protected in any new trade deals.

The report also recommends measures to restore and protect Britain’s natural environment, by investing in sustainable farming techniques and new food technologies.

According to the report poor diets contribute to around 64,000 deaths every year in England alone and cost the economy about £74 billion.

The report sets out how Britons’ diets will need to change over the next decade in order to meet the government’s existing targets on health, climate and nature.

By 2032, fruit and vegetable consumption will have to increase by 30 per cent, and fibre consumption by 50 per cent, while consumption of food high in saturated fat, salt and sugar will have to go down by 25 per cent, and meat consumption should reduce by 30 per cent.

The report estimates its recommendations will cost around £1.4bn per year and bring in up to £3.4bn per year of direct revenue to the government.

The Food Foundation welcomed the report, saying it is a “bold and exciting vision” which sets out a strong set of recommendations.

“We really welcome the strategy that is both very comprehensive and clear in its recommendations to Government,” Laura Sandys, chair of Food Foundation, commented.

“As the Food Foundation has said from its inception the challenges cannot be solved with piece meal one off initiatives but require deep systemic change. This whole system change is very well represented throughout the strategy.

“The strategy, having highlighted the problem and developed the solutions, now need to be acted upon and we will be continuing our campaigning for system change.”

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), while welcoming the ‘intent’ of the report to increase access and affordability of food and drink for children and families on lower incomes, warned that the proposed tax would be counterproductive.

“A salt and sugar tax will ultimately impact those families who are already struggling to make ends meet, by making food and drink more expensive,” commented Kate Halliwell, the FDF’s chief scientific officer.

“After many years of cost pressures, businesses in our sector are already operating on very tight margins, and any further costs would simply have to be passed on to the consumer in the form of higher food prices.”

Halliwell also contested the claim that the taxes raised will pay for additional health plans, noting that the “same promise was made ahead of the introduction of the soft drinks industry levy but was quietly dropped shortly afterwards.”

“These taxes will not drive reformulation. Food and drink manufacturers have been voluntarily lowering fat, salt and sugars in recipes for decades as well as reducing portion size, but it takes time to change much-loved products. Furthermore, the government’s proposed advertising ban and promotions restrictions would limit the ways in which companies can let families know about exciting new options,” she added.

The government has committed to responding to the report in a so-called White Paper policy document within six months.

(With inputs from Reuters)