Health coalition calls for industry levy on salt and sugar

An industry-wide levy on salt and sugar could prevent almost two million cases of chronic disease over 25 years and raise revenue that could be invested back into children’s health, say health organisations and food campaigners.1

The Recipe for Change coalition says that the UK government should build on the success of the soft drink levy, which has succeeded in reducing the overall amount of sugar sold in soft drinks by 35%. The 36 organisations include the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Royal Society of Public Health, the BMA, Diabetes UK, and the British Heart Foundation.

The coalition’s report, which argues that a new levy would encourage manufacturers to reformulate their products, examines two possible approaches. One would be a broad reformulation levy applied at a rate of £3/kg on …