News • Children's Food Campaign
Food and Drink Federation's Brexit opportunism on sugar tax opposition
Children's Food Campaign hits back at the Food and Drink Federation's renewed moves to block the Government's proposed Sugary Drinks Industry Levy.
Malcolm Clark, co-ordinator of the Children's Food Campaign, said:
"The UK's very high levels of childhood obesity, dental decay and diet-related ill-health did not magically decrease after the Brexit vote. For the Food and Drink Federation to use the referendum aftermath as an excuse to call for the weakening of the Government's commitment to tackling these problems, shows how quickly they will put short-term profits ahead of the longer-term physical and economic health of the nation. The FDF's stance opposing the Government's sugary drinks industry levy appears unpatriotic, and goes against both expert advice and public sentiment."
"Nobody knows what Brexit will do for food prices, or what the impact the liberalisation of the EU trade rules on sugar from next year will now have. But the evidence since 2008 suggests that in economically uncertain times, consumers are more likely to vote with their wallets - hence why a tax that might increase the cost of sugary drinks can be a particularly useful tool in changing people's purchasing habits."
Published Tuesday 12 July 2016
Children's Food Campaign: Better food and food teaching for children in schools, and protection of children from junk food marketing are the aims of Sustain's high-profile Children's Food Campaign. We also want clear food labelling that can be understood by everyone, including children.
