U.K.’s Johnson Rejects Idea of Extra Taxes on Unhealthy Food
- Billions in tax may help reduce diet inequality, report says
- Review says ‘junk food cycle’ takes toll on health and economy
Photographer: Jennifer Smith/Getty Images
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U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he’s “not attracted” to the idea of extra taxes on food, after a review called for a broad levy on sugar and salt sales as poor diets hurt the economy and people’s health.
The government-commissioned National Food Strategy urged Britain to introduce the world’s first sugar and salt reformulation tax, and use some of the proceeds to expand free school meals and support diets in deprived communities. It stopped short on recommending a levy on meat, while calling for measures to cut its consumption by 30% in the next decade.