Abstract
Fat, sugar or sweetened beverage taxes are part of an overall public health nutrition approach to healthy eating. They are not approaches that on their own are likely to bring about change. Policy evidence from existing food tax implementation suggest that taxes need to be paralleled by subsidies and other interventions to encourage healthy eating. Such dual methods help not only contribute to nutrition outcomes but also ensure political support for food taxes. Politicians and policy makers are suspicious of taxes, using subsidies and revenue monies from taxes to support healthy eating is more likely to encourage both political and public support. Building support for policies is never just a matter of academic evidence. Public health advocates need to show more ambition by developing skills in implementing pricing policies to support healthy eating. Key opponents to taxes are the food industry who use a range of arguments to prevent taxation being implemented. Public health advocates are weak in tackling the issues of corporate power and providing evidence to maintain policy and political support.The public health movement needs to continue to develop the political will among politicians and the public for taxes on food. A new way of looking at policy formation is required and this includes addressing the power of corporate interests and the role of professionals in shaping or combating these influences.
Highlights
Copyright: City Research Online aims to make research outputs of City, University of London available to a wider audience
The article by Bødker and colleagues in this edition of Preventive Medicine raises several issues for policy. These include the role and influence of evidence versus political will and powerful industry lobbying, the often conflicting timescales required for evidence of effect acceptable to policy makers and public health advocates and the need to consider unintended consequences
The article shows how single issue policy approaches run the risk of unintended consequences and demonstrates the complexity of issues which require consideration when trying to affect health-related purchasing
Summary
Copyright: City Research Online aims to make research outputs of City, University of London available to a wider audience. These include the role and influence of evidence versus political will and powerful industry lobbying, the often conflicting timescales required for evidence of effect acceptable to policy makers and public health advocates and the need to consider unintended consequences.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
