The Transforming UK Food Systems Programme (TUKFS) report, ‘Regulatory Tools for a Healthy and Sustainable Diet’, argued that a tax on food similar to the Sugar Levy on drinks could help tackles the UK’s obesity crisis.
In 2022 to 2023, 64.0% of adults aged 18 years and over in England were estimated to be overweight or living with obesity (Office for Health Improvement & Disparities). Among children aged 2 to 15, the prevalence of obesity was 15%, the prevalence of overweight – including obesity – was 27% (NHS)
The report comes ahead of the government’s food strategy and 25-year farming roadmap, set to be unveiled later this year.
Introducing a new salt levy, similar to the sugar tax, was another proposal put forward in a comprehensive set of recommended regulations, which were suggested to transform public health in the UK and deliver nationwide environmental benefits.
Professor Chris Hilson, lead author of the report at the University of Reading, claimed extending the sugar tax to all processed foods was vital.
Mandatory measures
“The current levy has successfully cut sugar in soft drinks, but we need to see the same success with products like milkshakes, biscuits, yogurts and breakfast cereals to improve public health,” said Hilson. “Mandatory measures on the food sector, such as a salt tax, should be considered by MPs.
“Stronger regulations on the wider food sector could mean a healthier environment, as well as a healthier population. Setting targets for reducing red and processed meat consumption is one way the government can reduce the UK’s climate impact, while also cutting the risk of cancer.”
The report called for more stringent regulations for the food sector and a move away from voluntary measures. It claimed measures such as information labels on food packaging had failed to address serious environmental damage and poor health outcomes at a population-wide scale.
Stronger policies would also support economic goals rather than hinder them, the authors argued, as a healthy environment and workforce were “essential for long-term growth”.
Professor Christine Riefa, University of Reading, added: “The report offers a comprehensive menu of regulatory tools to transform the UK’s food landscape.
‘Crisis state’
“Voluntary approaches have not worked, and we are now in a crisis state. Companies and farmers who want to do better are undermined by those who profit from ignoring health and environmental concerns.”
Other key recommendations included setting sectoral greenhouse gas targets for agriculture, adding dairy and beef farms to environmental permitting schemes, requiring large food businesses to report on their sales of unhealthy products and making front of pack traffic light food labelling mandatory on all products.
Hilson concluded: “Stronger regulation would support economic growth and national security. We can’t produce food without healthy soils, thriving pollinators and a stable climate, and no economy benefits from a population made sick by poor diets.”
Meanwhile, Charles Fermor, the co-founder of children’s snack brand Freddie’s Farm, calls for more support from the UK Government in tackling childhood obesity and improving health outcomes.