Tax Sugar-Sweetened Beverages. Janice Macdonald. MEd, RD, FDC Director of Communications Dietitians of Canada

Transcription

1 Tax Sugar-Sweetened Beverages? Janice Macdonald. MEd, RD, FDC Director of Communications Dietitians of Canada

2 Janice Macdonald, MEd, RD, FDC, has been supporting, advocating for and representing dietitians in Canada for more than 20 years. She was the first Executive Director for the British Columbia provincial dietetic association and a member of the team that created the vision for one professional association for dietitians in Canada. She is currently the Director of Communications with Dietitians of Canada (DC) and responsible for the public affairs and public and member communications of DC including the Canadian Journal for Dietetic Practice and Research, the national advocacy agenda, Nutrition Month Campaign, and She supports members to promote their role and value with decision makers and works collaboratively with other like-minded organizations to advance DC's advocacy agenda on issues such as healthy eating at school, the advertising of unhealthy foods to children, a single nutrient database of Canadian foods, and the inclusion of dietitian services in extended health care plans. She successfully facilitated a process with four other national health professional organizations to adopt the WHO Child Growth Standards and References in Canada.

3 Tax Sugar-Sweetened Beverages? Janice Macdonald, MEd, RD, FDC Director, Communications May 5, 2016

4 Who we are Pan-Canadian professional association for dietitians represent 6,000 members at the local, provincial and national level voice of the profession advance health through food and nutrition Bilingual Corporate Profile at (About Us)

5 What are DC Positions? evidence-informed perspectives (use Practicebased Evidence in Nutrition) produced independently or in partnership with like-minded non-commercial entities expert member review panel external experts may be invited to participate Position Development Guidelines available to members

6 Development process for this position 2010 PEN produced evidence review evidence review on sugar, health (mental and physical) and children 2015 Webinar for Childhood Obesity Foundation PEN evidence updated More evidence, reports, preliminary results from Mexico PEN author engaged to update the 2010 review Member review committee + two external experts 2016 (Feb 9) released position

7 DC Position Statement Dietitians of Canada (DC) recommends that an excise tax of 10-20% be applied to sugar-sweetened beverages sold in Canada given the negative impact of these products on the health of the population and the viability of taxation as a means to reduce consumption. For the greatest impact, taxation measures should be combined with other policy interventions such as increasing access to healthy foods while decreasing access to unhealthy foods in schools, daycares and recreation facilities; restrictions on the marketing of foods and beverages to children; and effective, longterm educational initiatives.

8 What are Sugar-Sweetened Beverages? soft drinks (soda or pop) fruit drinks sports drinks tea and coffee drinks energy drinks sweetened milks or milk alternatives, and any other beverages to which sugar has been added (CDC definition)

9 Why target SSBs? 13% of total daily caloric intake comes from added sugars WHO recommends 10% or less or about tsps. of free sugars One can of pop has about 10 tsps. of sugar; energy drink - 14 tsps. 7-8% of adolescents total daily caloric intake comes from SSBs 1 in 3 adolescents report daily consumption of SSBs

10 Why target SSBs? Moderate quality evidence linking consumption of sugarsweetened beverages to excess weight, obesity, and chronic disease onset in children and adults Children with high intakes of SSBs are 55% more likely to have obesity or excess weight in comparison to those with low intakes (WHO)

11 Who else is recommending a tax? Heart and Stroke Foundation* Childhood Obesity Foundation* Canadian Diabetes Association* Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada* Quebec Coalition of Weight-Related Problems* BC Healthy Living Alliance* Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention* Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (included ASBs) Minister Jane Philpott has expressed interest US Presidential Candidate Hilary Clinton endorses a tax * Endorsed DC s position

12 What jurisdictions have implemented a tax on SSBs? Hungary in 2011 France in 2012 Mexico in 2014 Berkeley in 2015 South Africa - effective 2017 United Kingdom - effective April 2018

13 Why recommend a 10-20% excise tax? Dose-related response (not linear) Businesses pass tax onto consumer Public Health England recommends 10-20% excise tax Norway study 11% tax reduced consumption by 7-17% Mexico s tax (1 peso/l) - ~ 10% % decline in purchases (BMJ 2016;352:h6704) An excise tax of ~20% likely best according to March 2016 report on Best Practices

14 Source of chart- Food Politics by Marion Nestle- March 21 UK s proposed tiered tax No tax < 5 grams 5-8 g sugar/100ml >8g sugar/100ml April 2018 Provides time to reformulate products

15 Criticisms of taxation addressed in paper Soft drink/sugar consumption declined/obesity increased Regressive tax Government has no business in influencing food choices of Canadians Obesity is multifactorial Negative economic impact loss of jobs etc.

16 Public opinion on taxation (play 21:32-24:39) 40% of Canadians* strongly support tax (+27% somewhat) on sugary drinks if used to fight childhood obesity 5 cents/100ml is capable of generating up to $1.8 billion per annum in Canada France revenue allocated to social security includes health care Hungary revenue allocated to state health costs UK - revenue to support sports in primary school * Ipsos Reid Poll 2011 for PHAC

17 Media attention on DC position

18 DC Position Statement Dietitians of Canada (DC) recommends that an excise tax of 10-20% be applied to sugar-sweetened beverages sold in Canada given the negative impact of these products on the health of the population and the viability of taxation as a means to reduce consumption. For the greatest impact, taxation measures should be combined with other policy interventions such as increasing access to healthy foods while decreasing access to unhealthy foods in schools, daycares and recreation facilities; restrictions on the marketing of foods and beverages to children; and effective, long-term educational initiatives.

19 Acknowledgements and next steps. Authors and reviewers Dr. Kim Raine and Sue Buhler All endorsing agencies Heart and Stroke Foundation Childhood Obesity Foundation Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada - Working Group leadership

20 Please share comments or questions into the Chat pod

21 May 19, 2016 l 12:00 pm Register at:

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