DT News - UK - EU health experts demand taxation of unhealthy food

Dental Tribune International

Fri. 16 November 2012

save

LONDON, UK/BERLIN, Germany: This week, a UK and a German health society have demanded the introduction of health-related food duties. In order to tackle diet-related diseases and to offset the financial public health burden of diabetes, heart disease and dental decay, other organisations across Europe have also called upon their governments for intervention recently.

On Wednesday, the National Heart Forum, a charitable alliance of 65 UK organisations working to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and related health conditions, recommended the introduction of duties on sugary soft drinks to curb consumption. In accordance with proposals from other countries such as France and Norway, the experts also suggested that the government support public health programmes or subsidise the cost of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables.

With regard to a €700,000 promotion campaign planned by representatives of the sugar industry to improve the image of their products in Germany, the German Diabetes Association raised serious concerns about the uncontrolled consumption of sugar this week.

According to Dr Dietrich Garlichs, the association’s CEO, most people are not aware of the fact that many convenience products contain considerable amounts of sugar. On average, Germans consume 35 kg of sugar each a year and about 100 g a day, which is twice the amount recommended by nutritional experts. As a result, about 15 per cent of three- to 17-year-olds are obese and have an increased risk of developing heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.

According to the European Food Information Council, sugars include sucrose, glucose, fructose, lactose and maltose and are naturally found in fruits, vegetables and milk products. However, many manufacturers also add sugars to their products to provide sweet taste, texture and consistency to foods. Thus, sugar is found not only in chocolate, ice cream and soft drinks, but also in ketchup, ham and bread among others, Garlichs said.

“There is a growing consensus among policymakers that carefully applied food taxes are both cost-effective and justified to help tackle the spiralling costs and huge social burdens of noncommunicable diseases,” said Jane Landon, Deputy Chief Executive of the National Heart Forum.

Moreover, a review of 24 studies on taxation on unhealthy food in high-income countries published between 2000 and 2009 revealed that taxing less healthy foods could alter consumption in the expected direction. Thus, the WHO recommends the use of fiscal policy to influence food prices to encourage consumers to buy healthier products.

“Taxes are never popular but public support could be strengthened if the revenues generated are used for health-related purposes, such as health programmes or subsidising the costs of healthy foods to achieve a fiscally neutral policy,” Landon said.

The forum’s report, titled “What is the role of health-related food duties?”, can be downloaded from the organisation’s website.

To post a reply please login or register

World Food Day highlights importance of healthy diet

ROME, Italy: World Food Day is celebrated annually on 16 October, marking the day the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), a United Nations agency, was...

Health experts unite for anti-sugar campaign

LONDON – In order to tackle and reverse the obesity and diabetic epidemic, health experts from across the globe have formed a group called Action on ...

Poor oral health due to junk food may elevate risk of heart disease

CAMBRIDGE – Saturated fats in junk food have been associated with obesity, diabetes and hyperlipidaemia risk. Now, researchers from the University of ...

British Dental Health Foundation supports food-labelling campaign

RUGBY, UK: The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has announced its support of the British Heart Foundation and the Children’s Food Campaign, who...

Taking good care of your teeth may be good for your brain

SENDAI, Japan: A new study has found that periodontal disease and tooth loss are linked to brain shrinkage in the hippocampus, which plays a role in memory ...

New UK food labelling system could benefit oral health

RUGBY – The British Dental Health Foundation has welcomed a new labelling system that was launched on Wednesday and aims to enable consumers to make ...

Take dental system out of hands of politicians, professionals demand

LONDON, UK: In a letter to the Daily Telegraph this week, over 1,000 dental professionals have called for regaining control of NHS-provided dentistry from ...

Health officials demand smoke-free England to tackle oral cancer rates

RUGBY, UK: As part of November’s Mouth Cancer Action Month, the Oral Health Foundation is currently helping to raise awareness of oral cancer in the UK. ...

Paediatric dentistry expert scoops Scottish Health Award

EDINBURGH, UK: Since its first publication in 1997, Paediatric Dentistry by Prof. Richard Welbury has become the standard textbook for all dentists working ...

“Historically, oral health has been separated from the rest of health”

The common misconception that oral health is not interlinked with overall health is slowly being dispelled by dental professionals who continue to ...

Education

Live webinar
Mon. 29 April 2024
5:30 pm UTC (London)