Researchers call on Governments to act now and implement effective healthy food policies
- Prof. Karen Hofman
Present evidence showing that food policies are necessary to curb rising rates of diet-related diseases.
Leading nutrition researchers co-authored an article that highlights the role that ultra-processed food and beverage consumption has had on nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like obesity and diabetes. The paper which was published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology provides evidence that food policies are effective in reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods. In the article, the researchers call on governments to quickly implement effective healthy food policies.
To date, several healthy food policies, like taxes and front of package labelling, have been implemented successfully, including multi-faceted policies in Latin America. Like Latin America, South Africa has implemented effective national policies, such as the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and is working towards labelling regulations on front of package warning labels to improve consumers’ understanding of their food choices.
Researchers highlight that one of the most effective ways to discourage the consumption of ultra-processed foods is through taxation. They cite studies, including in South Africa, which show that SSB taxes are working to decrease consumption rates. Most importantly, these studies indicate that SSB taxes have thus far made no impact on employment rates, an argument often made by the industry.
Barry Popkin, distinguished professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health said, “Rapidly rising rates of diabetes, hypertension, obesity and may other nutrition-related NCDs is a call for action. We have shown that taxation of both unhealthy SSBs and junk food, as well as the front of package warning labels, are effective and there is no reason to wait for further evidence – the cost of these diseases is too high. We have also shown that these practices will impact positively the health of lower-income and education households significantly, a major goal of reducing health disparities globally.”
“In South Africa, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes account for more than half (51%) of all deaths. Our research has shown that an estimated 4.5 million South Africans will have type 2 diabetes by 2030. This burden is projected to cost the South African public healthcare system R35.1 billion by 2030, close to 7% of its gross domestic product,” said Professor Karen Hofman, co-author of the paper and Director of the
South African Medical Research Council Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science at the University of the Witwatersrand. She noted also that “the majority of Covid deaths are related to these underlying conditions”.
“Right now, the country is debating on increasing the HPL to 20%, and the evidence highlighted in this paper shows how effective this policy can be in decreasing consumer consumption when implemented. It not only decreases consumption but also allows consumers to make healthier, more knowledgeable choices,” said Professor Hofman.
“Urgent government action is needed to implement mandatory and effective healthy food policies to reduce the rising NCD rates in South Africa. SSB taxes and front of package labelling have been successfully implemented in other countries and we applaud these experts for emphasizing the need for governments to act now,” stated Lawrence Mbalati of the Healthy Living Alliance.