Campaigners mentioned the phase was “extremely positive” and a signal that the quango had acknowledged the need to have for “emergency action” to combat obesity and Kind 2 diabetes.
Nevertheless, the foods and drink sector is alarmed by the severity of some of the choices in the document. It insists the leads to of obesity are “far wider” than sugar and warns that a tax would hit the poorest families hardest.
The publication of Public Well being England’s document on June 26 will coincide with the release of a extended-awaited report on carbohydrates by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, which will incorporate suggestions on sugar intake in Britain. The Planet Overall health Organisation halved its advised day-to-day restrict of sugar in March.
The Telegraph has noticed an early draft of Public Well being England’s paper, made by the Uk Health Forum, a coalition of heart disease experts, which was mentioned at two summits hosted by the quango earlier this month — 1 for specialists, charities and campaigners, and the 2nd for sector representatives.
Two of the principal proposals are a tax to improve rates of sugar products and targets equivalent to these in spot for salt, which would call for companies to slowly lessen amounts of the ingredient in their merchandise.
Six “themes” are set out in the draft, every single containing a quantity of possible actions.
Beneath the heading “use less”, the paper suggests “reformulating” meals and drink products to reduce sugar content, both with government-set targets or voluntary specifications. Such a move would support to keep track of sugar levels and create a “level taking part in field”, it says.
Sugar targets have been backed by campaigners and MPs like Keith Vaz, who has Sort 2 diabetes. The paper states that salt reduction targets have been a success.
Beneath “weaknesses”, the paper states that a voluntary technique may possibly lead producers to concentrate on “niche” items. Last month, The Telegraph disclosed how organizations that signed up to the Government’s “healthy eating” pledge have failed to lessen the amount of sugar in some of their main manufacturers.
Below a second theme, “sell less”, the paper suggests a “tax on sugar or merchandise high in sugar” and points to a similar move in France by means of which soft drink income declined.
The paper says that sugary drinks have been described as a “low hanging fruit”, highlighting analysis showing that a twenty per cent tax on sugar-sweetened drinks “could reduce consumption and prevalence of weight problems in adults by one.3 per cent”. This kind of a move has public support, the paper states, “especially when well being benefits are emphasised”.
However, the document also warns that such a tax risks getting a “regressive effect on income” and harming the competitiveness of food and drink firms. It says that the cost of the tax could be absorbed by the industry.
It is understood that the “favoured options” amongst professionals and campaigners at the Public Overall health England summit had been for a triple method of a tax, targets, and banning or severely limiting commercials of ultra-processed food items.
Campaigners say the risk of a tax could force the industry to accept targets.
Dr Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist and science director of Action on Sugar, a campaign group, stated: “It is extremely optimistic that Public Health England has acknowledged the necessity for emergency action to combat the growing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and weight problems that is spiralling out of manage.”
The Division of Wellness, which oversees Public Overall health England, has insisted that it is “not thinking about a sugar tax”.
Even so, Graham MacGregor, professor of cardiovascular medication at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine and chairman of Action on Sugar, said: “If Jeremy Hunt is a true Well being Secretary he has received to do something now — and this is a sensible plan.”
Gavin Partington, director general of the British Soft Drinks Association, explained it was “misguided” to recommend obesity could be “attributed to a single ingredient”.
An market supply advised the quango was attempting to “mitigate” against attainable criticism of the SACN report for not going far ample, and to present that the government was “doing something” to tackle the concern.
Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Well being England, sits on the secretariat of the SACN committee.
She stated: “Public Overall health England is actively exploring ways to lessen the volume of sugar men and women eat, to inform a wider method to boost dietary well being and lessen ranges of weight problems in the population.
“Earlier this month, Public Wellness England held two occasions to investigate methods of reducing the intakes of sugar with a range of stakeholders such as academics, customers groups and sector.
“We are now getting ready a paper for discussion on reducing sugars consumption that will be published on the 26th June.”
Final week a study by Action of Sugar of fizzy drinks concluded that individuals had been drinking sugar “by the spoonful” and warned that artisan beverages hold far more of the ingredient than less costly blends.
Wellness watchdog weighs up sugar tax and reduction targets
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