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Dispatch from the UK
The UK and EU’s Ambitious Plans to Get Combustion Vehicles Off the Road
At this point, investing in cleaner combustion technology is like trying to develop a healthier candy bar
Last week it was announced that a world-first sugar and salt tax could be introduced in England as part of the new National Food Strategy. The tax on wholesale sugar and salt is intended to be an incentive for manufacturers of confectionery and processed food to reduce the content of the offending ingredients. In reality, to avoid sacrificing the sugary integrity of a Mars bar, it’s likely that the tax would instead manifest as higher prices for consumers.
This is problematic as unhealthy food tends to be significantly cheaper than fresh, healthy alternatives. Boris Johnson agrees with this sentiment, stating that extra taxes should not be put on hard working people.
In England, 1 in 3 people aged over 45 are clinically obese. The resulting food related diseases, loss of productivity and reduced life expectancy are significant burdens that the NHS and economy has to carry at a cost of approximately £74 billion.
