The World Health Organisation (WHO) has joined those calling for a \u201csugar tax\u201d on soft drinks in a major report on childhood obesity.<\/p>\n
The move will undoubtedly increase pressure on the government as it prepares to issue its own strategy for tackling obesity in the UK.<\/p>\n
The plan has been in the pipeline for some time – it was originally going to be published last autumn. But even at this late stage there is still fierce debate within Whitehall about what should be in it.<\/p>\n
Health experts have been campaigning hard for a sugar tax to be introduced – and even the government advisory body Public Health England has put a case for it.<\/p>\n
But for much of the time since the election, ministers have been resistant.<\/p>\n
Now WHO has joined in the debate. Calling for a sugar tax, WHO\u2019s Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity said: \u201cOverall, the rationale for taxation measures to influence purchasing behaviours is strong and supported by the available evidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe commission believes there is sufficient rationale to warrant the introduction of an effective tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. It is well established that the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with an increased risk of obesity.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the boss of Unilever, one of the world\u2019s biggest food manufacturers, disagrees.<\/p>\n
He has warned that a sugar tax will not solve Britain\u2019s obesity crisis and said it is \u201ctoo simple\u201d as a proposal.<\/p>\n
Paul Polman said there was little evidence that introducing a levy on food and drink with a high sugar content would help tackle obesity.<\/p>\n
Unilever makes some of Britain\u2019s most popular snacks, including Magnum, Ben & Jerry\u2019s, and Cornetto ice-creams.<\/p>\n
Its chief executive said a sugar tax was not the \u201choly grail\u201d and insisted that the countries that have introduced it, such as Mexico, are not seeing obvious benefits.<\/p>\n
The call for the tax comes as a study found that exposure to advertising for junk foods and chocolate increases food intake in children – but not in adults.<\/p>\n
The research by the University of Liverpool reviewed 22 separate studies that had examined the impact of food advertising exposure on food consumption.<\/p>\n
Dr Emma Boyland, from the University\u2019s Institute of Psychology, Health & Society, said: \u201cThrough our analysis of these published studies I have shown that food advertising doesn\u2019t just affect brand preference \u2013 it drives consumption.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven that almost all children in Westernised societies are exposed to large amounts of unhealthy food advertising on a daily basis this is a real concern.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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