There’s a growing need around the world to tackle diseases caused by diet, and the consumption of high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt foods. Some countries are taxing unhealthy foods, which is successfully helping to tackle obesity and related health issues.
The simple fact is taxes on foods high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) reduce the sale, purchase and consumption of unhealthy foods worldwide, reports London’s Imperial College Business School.
The knock-on effect lowers rates of obesity and other diet-related health problems, especially when taxes are combined with subsidies for healthier foods. And the most benefit has been recorded among lower-income groups.
The review explores 20 studies worldwide, in countries including Mexico, the United States, Canada, Hungary, Denmark, the Netherlands, Singapore and New Zealand, highlighting the global potential of taxes on HFSS foods.
In Mexico, an 8% tax on sweets, chocolates, sugary cereals, crisps and salty snacks saw a reduction in the sale of taxed foods of 18% in supermarkets and up to 40% in other retailers. Low-income groups, who were greater consumers of the taxed foods beforehand, showed the biggest drop in consumption once the tax was implemented.
Crucially though, taxed HFSS food must be accompanied by subsidies for healthier foods – such as foods with no added sugar or salt, foods low in saturated fat, wholegrain foods, fruit and vegetables. It’s possible the income from a high-rate tax (between 20% and 50%) on HFSS foods could be used to fund subsidies for healthier alternatives.
And how about the UK where obesity is a growing problem? The rate of obesity in England has risen from 53% in 1993 to 64% in 2021. In global rankings, the UK is a pitiful 55th for male obesity and 87th for female obesity, costing the NHS around £6.5 billion a year.
Recent government action includes mandatory calorie labelling in restaurants and takeaways, and restrictions on where HFSS foods are placed in supermarkets. There is also a sugar tax on soft drinks, which has seen the average sugar content of affected products fall 46% from 2015 to 2020.
Dr Elisa Pineda of Imperial College and lead author, emphasises: “For governments, especially in the UK, our findings underscore the efficacy of HFSS food taxes as a viable strategy to reduce unhealthy food consumption and address the public health challenges of obesity.
“The evidence that people in lower-income groups benefit the most from these taxes suggests that they can also play a role in reducing health inequalities.”
She believes food taxes and subsidies could alter consumer behaviours in a way that could lead to healthier populations on a global scale.