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| Ministers urged to introduce 'sugar tax' in leaked childhood obesity report | Ministers urged to introduce 'sugar tax' in leaked childhood obesity report |
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| A report on sugar’s ruinous effects on people’s health that was controversially delayed by Jeremy Hunt urges ministers to impose a “sugar tax” and crack down on the marketing of unhealthy products to children and two-for-one deals in supermarkets in a bid to tackle childhood obesity. | A report on sugar’s ruinous effects on people’s health that was controversially delayed by Jeremy Hunt urges ministers to impose a “sugar tax” and crack down on the marketing of unhealthy products to children and two-for-one deals in supermarkets in a bid to tackle childhood obesity. |
| The report, compiled by Public Health England, (PHE), the government’s own advisory group, sets out a range of tough policies that need to be taken to reduce the consumption of sugary foods and drinks that are fuelling the obesity crisis and costing the NHS £.5.1bn a year. | The report, compiled by Public Health England, (PHE), the government’s own advisory group, sets out a range of tough policies that need to be taken to reduce the consumption of sugary foods and drinks that are fuelling the obesity crisis and costing the NHS £.5.1bn a year. |
| Related: Public Health England obesity report: the key points | |
| It is being published later today, but the Guardian has obtained an advance copy. | It is being published later today, but the Guardian has obtained an advance copy. |
| Its recommendations – including for the high amounts of sugar to be stripped out of many everyday food products – pose a serious challenge for ministers including the prime minister David Cameron, who have consistently ruled out bringing in any sort of a “sugar tax”, as advocated by Jamie Oliver and many medical groups and health charities. | Its recommendations – including for the high amounts of sugar to be stripped out of many everyday food products – pose a serious challenge for ministers including the prime minister David Cameron, who have consistently ruled out bringing in any sort of a “sugar tax”, as advocated by Jamie Oliver and many medical groups and health charities. |
| Number 10 confirmed on Thursday that the Cameron did not even read the report before dismissing the idea. “The prime minister’s view remains that he doesn’t see a need for a tax on sugar.” | |
| The report, called Sugar Reduction: the Evidence for Action, was originally meant to be published in July but was delayed by the Department of Health, which PHE is part of, so its controversial findings could be used to “inform” the government’s forthcoming strategy to combat childhood obesity. | The report, called Sugar Reduction: the Evidence for Action, was originally meant to be published in July but was delayed by the Department of Health, which PHE is part of, so its controversial findings could be used to “inform” the government’s forthcoming strategy to combat childhood obesity. |
| Warning that average sugar intake is 12% to 15% of people’s energy intake instead of the 5% government advisers say it should be, it makes the case for a sugar tax of 10% to 20% on sugary foods and drinks, saying: “Research studies and impact data from countries that have already taken action suggest that price increases, such as by taxation, can influence purchasing of sugar-sweetened drinks and other high-sugar products at least in the short term with the effect being larger at higher levels of taxation.” | Warning that average sugar intake is 12% to 15% of people’s energy intake instead of the 5% government advisers say it should be, it makes the case for a sugar tax of 10% to 20% on sugary foods and drinks, saying: “Research studies and impact data from countries that have already taken action suggest that price increases, such as by taxation, can influence purchasing of sugar-sweetened drinks and other high-sugar products at least in the short term with the effect being larger at higher levels of taxation.” |
| The report, a review of the international evidence on how to tackle rising sugar consumption, is clear and urgent from its very first line – “We are eating too much sugar and it is bad for our health” – that radical action is needed if that trend is to be reversed. It goes on: “Consuming too many foods and drinks high in sugar can lead to weight gain and related health problems, as well as tooth decay. Almost 25% of adults, 10% of four to five-year-olds and 19% of 10 to 11-year-olds in England are obese, with significant numbers also being overweight. Treating obesity and its consequences alone currently costs the NHS £5.1bn every year.” | The report, a review of the international evidence on how to tackle rising sugar consumption, is clear and urgent from its very first line – “We are eating too much sugar and it is bad for our health” – that radical action is needed if that trend is to be reversed. It goes on: “Consuming too many foods and drinks high in sugar can lead to weight gain and related health problems, as well as tooth decay. Almost 25% of adults, 10% of four to five-year-olds and 19% of 10 to 11-year-olds in England are obese, with significant numbers also being overweight. Treating obesity and its consequences alone currently costs the NHS £5.1bn every year.” |
| Pointing out that the scientific advisory committee on nutrition (SACN), a panel of experts that advises ministers, now recommends that sugar makes up no more than 5% of an average Briton’s daily energy intake, the report warns that current levels of consumption are far, far beyond that. “Sugar intakes of all population groups are above the recommendations, contributing between 12% to 15% of energy. Consumption of sugar and sugar-sweetened drinks is particularly high in school-age children. It also tends to be highest among the most disadvantaged who also experience a higher prevalence of tooth decay and obesity and its health consequences.” | Pointing out that the scientific advisory committee on nutrition (SACN), a panel of experts that advises ministers, now recommends that sugar makes up no more than 5% of an average Briton’s daily energy intake, the report warns that current levels of consumption are far, far beyond that. “Sugar intakes of all population groups are above the recommendations, contributing between 12% to 15% of energy. Consumption of sugar and sugar-sweetened drinks is particularly high in school-age children. It also tends to be highest among the most disadvantaged who also experience a higher prevalence of tooth decay and obesity and its health consequences.” |
| A row erupted last week about the non-publication of the report when Dr Sarah Wollaston, the Conservative MP who chairs the Commons health selected committee, made clear her anger that she and her fellow committee members had not been able to see it before they started taking evidence for their inquiry into childhood obesity. | A row erupted last week about the non-publication of the report when Dr Sarah Wollaston, the Conservative MP who chairs the Commons health selected committee, made clear her anger that she and her fellow committee members had not been able to see it before they started taking evidence for their inquiry into childhood obesity. |
| An exchange of letters with Hunt, the health secretary, failed to prompt its release, which led to her making public that she was “deeply concerned” by the secrecy surrounding the report. | An exchange of letters with Hunt, the health secretary, failed to prompt its release, which led to her making public that she was “deeply concerned” by the secrecy surrounding the report. |
| And in a furious letter to the PHE chief executive, Duncan Selbie, Wollaston wrote that: “Sending the wrong message on timely data transparency ... could cause immense damage and call into question the ability and willingness of PHE to act on publication in the public interest independently of the secretary of state or political considerations.” | And in a furious letter to the PHE chief executive, Duncan Selbie, Wollaston wrote that: “Sending the wrong message on timely data transparency ... could cause immense damage and call into question the ability and willingness of PHE to act on publication in the public interest independently of the secretary of state or political considerations.” |
| The report makes eight recommendations, including forcing food manufacturers to reduce portion sizes, which it says would reduce obesity and save the NHS £500m a year. | |
| The eight recommendations are: | The eight recommendations are: |
| Dame Shirley Cramer, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said the report should act as a spur for “hard hitting action” to counter obesity. | |
| “We welcome this report, and the contribution this will make to reduce obesity levels, particularly among children. Hard hitting action is necessary on pricing, reformulation and promotion of high sugar products as these are a major factor in fuelling our obesity epidemic”, said Cramer. | |
| “We fully support these measures which are backed overwhelmingly by both the public and expert opinion. There can be no excuses for further delay and it is now vital that these recommendations are taken forward along with a comprehensive package of other measures to reverse the obesity epidemic”. |