It's tricky to regulate these issues directly, because food businesses exist to make profit for their shareholders, and will work to side-step regulations. But taxation has worked in Mexico where they introduced a sugar tax on (from memory) carbonated drinks. If I recall correctly the tax reduced consumption of sugar at a population level, which surprised everyone I think! So taxation would be my vote.
Agreed on taxation, Karen. We had a sugar tax on soft drinks here too in the UK, and we saw no fall in consumption, yet a decent fall in sugar levels. Seems like a no-brainer to me, and this is one area where I think government intervention is a good thing. But it's a touchy subject!
Education is key too. Hardly anything in the curriculum about where our food actually comes from and its impact on our health - physical and mental. It is as if they don't want us to know???
It’s really important to tackle this issue in society - for our health and mental wellbeing. Please share any ways we can all pressure government, Liam - when you get the chance!
Thanks for the support, Annabel! I would say we can all write to our local MPs to make the point that some government intervention on processed foods wouldn't actually be opposed as much as they think it would. But whether that gets through or falls on deaf ears depends on the quality of your MP. I haven't had much back from mine to fill me with confidence whenever I've been in touch with him! Aside from writing to politicians, we can also have some influence through what we put in our shopping baskets.
It's tricky to regulate these issues directly, because food businesses exist to make profit for their shareholders, and will work to side-step regulations. But taxation has worked in Mexico where they introduced a sugar tax on (from memory) carbonated drinks. If I recall correctly the tax reduced consumption of sugar at a population level, which surprised everyone I think! So taxation would be my vote.
Agreed on taxation, Karen. We had a sugar tax on soft drinks here too in the UK, and we saw no fall in consumption, yet a decent fall in sugar levels. Seems like a no-brainer to me, and this is one area where I think government intervention is a good thing. But it's a touchy subject!
Education is key too. Hardly anything in the curriculum about where our food actually comes from and its impact on our health - physical and mental. It is as if they don't want us to know???
Plus - what is served in school canteens 🤦♀️😥
Yep, school canteens, and hospitals! I was shocked to see the state of the vending machines in the hospital when I visited recently. Truly shocking.
It’s really important to tackle this issue in society - for our health and mental wellbeing. Please share any ways we can all pressure government, Liam - when you get the chance!
Thanks for the support, Annabel! I would say we can all write to our local MPs to make the point that some government intervention on processed foods wouldn't actually be opposed as much as they think it would. But whether that gets through or falls on deaf ears depends on the quality of your MP. I haven't had much back from mine to fill me with confidence whenever I've been in touch with him! Aside from writing to politicians, we can also have some influence through what we put in our shopping baskets.