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Their views come ahead of the 65th World Health Assembly takingplace in Geneva on 21-26 May 2012 where prevention and control ofnon-communicable diseases will be a key issue for discussion. As an increasing number of countries introduce taxes on unhealthyfood and drinks, Oliver Mytton and colleagues at the University ofOxford examine the evidence on the health effects of food taxes. Evidence suggests that taxing a wide range of unhealthy foods ornutrients is likely to result in greater health benefits thannarrow taxes, they say, although the strongest evidence base is fortax on sugary drinks. For example, a US study found a 35% tax on sugar sweetened drinks($0.45 (£0.28; €0.34) per drink) in a canteen led to a26% decline in sales. Meanwhile modelling studies predict a 20% tax on sugary drinks inthe US would reduce obesity levels by 3.5%, and suggest thatextending VAT (at 17.5%) to unhealthy foods in the UK could cut upto 2,700 heart disease deaths a year. Opinion polls from the US also put support for tax on sugary drinksat between 37% and 72%, particularly when the health benefits ofthe tax are emphasised. However, they point out that understanding the overall effect onhealth is complicated, and that policy makers need to be wary ofnegative effects, like changes in other important nutrients andcompensatory behaviour that may increase energy intake or reduceenergy expenditure. The food industry also argues that the taxes would be ineffective,unfair, and damage the industry leading to job losses. And from alegislative point of view, it is still unclear how such taxes arebest introduced and enforced. Meanwhile, others have advocated that the taxes be used to raisefunds to treat diet related diseases, subsidise healthy foods, orto stimulate industry reformulation of food (such as removal ofsalt, sugar, or saturated fats from foods). In conclusion, Mytton and colleagues say that health related foodtaxes have the potential to improve health, but the tax would needto be at least 20% to have a significant effect on populationhealth. In a second analysis paper, Corinna Hawkes from the Centre for FoodPolicy at City University London says that, although governmentsare beginning to implement food policies to encourage healthiereating, "there remains a long way to go for food policies toreach their full potential." She points out that changes to the food supply system since the1980s have "coincided with rises in obesity andnon-communicable diseases" and argues that health must be madea priority for the modern food economy. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as China Fetal Transducer , ECG Monitoring Electrodes Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Reusable Spo2 Sensor.
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