Sugar tax backed by health chiefs
BBC News | Health | 21 Oct 2015
Public health chiefs have advised the health secretary to introduce a sugar tax as part of a range of measures to tackle child obesity.
Ahead of their child obesity strategy, ministers asked Public Health England to review the evidence on how to reduce sugar consumption.
But PHE has come under criticism for not releasing the findings of its report.
And the body has now confirmed a sugar tax is one of its recommendations.
The acknowledgement came after PHE director of diet and obesity Dr Alison Tedstone appeared before MPs on Tuesday saying the organisation “does see a role for a fiscal approach” and the higher the tax increase “the greater the effect”.
Afterwards, sources at PHE confirmed the report specifically called for him to consider a sugar tax, adding this was not the most important of its recommendations.
