Junk food tax – a public health intervention to tackle non-communicable diseases: A lesson from Mexico

Abstract

The rising prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases is a major global public health concern. The consumption of junk food – food high in fat, sugar, and salt – contributes to unhealthy weight gain, obesity, and NCDs. The World Health Organization recognizes the health benefits of introducing tax on junk food, proposing that such a policy would encourage healthier dietary choices leading to the reduction of NCD prevalence. Multiple countries have adopted this policy to tackle NCDs. This systematic review focuses on the experience from Mexico and hopes to provide insights on using health tax policy as a public health intervention. The prevalence of various NCDs in Mexico is among the highest in the world. To address this issue, Mexico has decided to regulate the junk food market by introducing an 8% and a 10% tax on non-essential energy-dense foods (NEDFs) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), respectively, since January 2014. The purchase and consumption of NEDFs and SSBs have declined in the post-tax period. Mathematical models on weight change, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease policy have also predicted a drop in the prevalence of overweight, obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and mortality, even if calorie compensation is factored in. This translates into a promising reduction in the burden of health due to NCDs and healthcare costs, particularly for those of lower socioeconomic status, thus promoting health equity. However, the policy is not without shortcomings. For instance, the tax effect is not evenly distributed as it varies across types of foods, regions, and retailers; hence hindering the maximum potential of the policy. In addition, the awareness of the junk food tax and its motives is also not universal among the population, which diminishes the impact of the policy. Complementary strategies such as healthy food subsidies or educational campaigns to promote the policy should be considered to maximize the effect. Countries that are considering junk food tax as a public health policy to tackle NCDs should learn from Mexico’s example.