[ad_1]
A tax on ultra-processed meals would encourage parents to buy healthier foods: UK's chief medical officer urges government to take drastic measures to eliminate childhood obesity
- Chicken Nuggets, Ice Cream and Frosties May Be Taxed When Examining Obesity
- Executive Director Dame Sally Davies said the tax would encourage parents to buy healthier food
- One in five children leaving primary school is now obese
By Sophie Borland and Eleanor Sharples for the Daily Mail
Published on: 19:55 EDT, May 30, 2019 | Update: 19:55 EDT, May 30, 2019
Chicken nuggets, ice cream and Frosties could be taxed as part of draconian plans to combat juvenile obesity.
Dame Sally Davies, Chief Physician, may recommend a tax to convince parents to buy healthier foods.
State Secretary for Health, Matt Hanbad, asked him to conduct an urgent study on how the UK can halve the rate of obesity in children by 2030 .
Such a tax would help parents "buy" healthier foods, she said, because they were cheaper and better for them.
Chicken nuggets, ice cream and ice cubes could be taxed as part of draconian plans to reduce childhood obesity after the Health Secretary has asked the country's chief medical officer to conduct an exam urgent.
Dame Sally Davies, Chief Physician, may recommend a tax to convince parents to buy healthier foods. Health Secretary Matt Hanbad has asked him to conduct an urgent review of how Britain can halve the rate of childhood obesity by 2030.
Dame Sally told BBC News: "If you offer a healthy product on the shelves of supermarkets, it will be cheap.
"If it's unhealthy, there's a levy that's tantamount to a tax, so parents are then encouraged to buy the healthy version because it's cheaper and they can afford it." to see in good health. "
Breakfast cereals, chicken nuggets and ice cream – considered ultra-processed foods – could be targeted, she said.
One in five children leaving primary school is obese. Ministers have been criticized for their inability to resolve the crisis.
This is not very good taste: according to Lady Sally, breakfast cereals like Frosties have been categorized as ultra-processed foods and could be targeted for tax purposes
Last summer, they announced a new strategy on obesity among children, calling for mandatory labeling of calories on menus and the ban on junk food at a reduced price.
Manufacturers have been set targets for reducing sugar and servings. But the measures are voluntary and do not involve any sanction.
Activists want mandatory goals from the food industry to reduce calories and portions.
There is also concern about the growing number of fast food restaurants, often located near schools.
Publicity
Share or comment this article:
Source link