Review: Effectiveness and policy implications of health taxes on foods high in fat, salt, and sugar
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Taxation on food and non-alcoholic beverages are increasingly employed to promote healthier diets and combat the escalating rates of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases. While sugar-sweetened beverages have been the primary focus of such taxes, taxation of high-fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS) foods, and the impact of such taxes are less clear. We conducted a systematic literature review and assessment of the evidence gathered from 20 studies on the impacts of health taxes on HFSS foods around the world. We focused on impacts on sales and consumption of taxed foods, on health outcomes, and on possible unintended consequences (e.g., substitution towards unhealthier products, job losses, ripple effects on businesses, and potential economic burden on lower-income consumers). We found evidence of decreasing sales, or purchases, and intakes of taxed HFSS foods, especially when taxes were combined with subsidies on healthy foods. Higher tax rates were more effective in reducing purchases or consumption. Tax effects differed by income level, with the lowest-income groups being most responsive. In experimental studies, combining taxes and subsidies contributed to mitigating regressive financial impacts of taxes.
Date Issued
2024-02-01
Date Acceptance
2024-01-18
Citation
Food Policy, 2024, 123
ISSN
0306-9192
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Food Policy
Volume
123
Copyright Statement
© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
102599
Date Publish Online
2024-02-18