Sugared and sweetened drinks, snack sweets. After recent FAO report on ultraprocessed foods - to which both categories belong - there are two new scientific studies. On JAMA Internal Medicine e British Medical Journal (BMJ), further insights into the premature mortality associated with the consumption of these foods and the efficacy of sugar tax to reduce their contributions.
Sweetened (and 'sweetened') drinks and premature mortality, the study in 10 European countries
The cohort study Association Between Soft Drink Consumption and Mortality in 10 European Countries, published on 3.9.19 on JAMA Internal Medicine, was conducted under the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). (1) From 1.1.92 to 32.12.2000, out of 451.743 individuals - average age 50,8 years, 71,1% women - in 10 European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom). (2)
The goal of the research was to examine the correlation between total consumption of soft drinks - sweetened and sweetened with artificial sweeteners (3) - and a possible increase in premature mortality. An analysis of particular importance, considering the diffusion and frequency of consumption of these drinks. And the underestimation of the public health risks associated with it. (4)
'Greater consumption of soft drinks, sweetened and artificially sweetened, has been associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality. Consumption of artificially sweetened soft drinks has also been associated with death from circulatory disease, and consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks has been associated with death from digestive diseases.'. (5)
The survey found a significant increase in risks, in particular, among regular consumers of sweetened and / or sweetened soft drinks (two or more glasses a day), compared with occasional consumers (one glass a month, or less).
Sugar tax, a public health measure
La soda tax - that is to say, the tax on the consumption of sugary drinks - has already shown a favorable impact in the various countries where it has been applied in recent decades. Not only in terms of reducing consumption but above all of reformulation of products. To the point that today in England soft drinks have on average half the sugars compared to the identical references sold in Italy.
La sugar tax - that is to say, the tax proportionate to the quantities of sugar present in ultra-processed foods of mass consumption (eg sweet snacks, snacks, soft drinks) - can also be even more useful in achieving public health objectives. Effectively stimulating the manufacturing industries to review the recipes of their products in order to improve their nutritional profiles. A qualitative leap that can substantially contribute to the improvement of the population's diet.
A systematic review 'Potential impact on prevalence of obesity in the UK of a 20% price increase in high sugar snacks: modeling study'was published on 4.9.19 on British Medical Journal. (6) With the aim of estimating the potential impact - on body mass index (Body Mass Index, BMI) and the prevalence of obesity in the British population - a 20% increase in the price of sugar-rich snacks. It is a surprising result, with double the impact of the soda tax. For the simple reason that the greatest intakes of sugar in the diet of the population examined come from snack desserts.
A tax by 20% on sweets, according to the researchers, would reduce the average individual energy intake by 8900 kcal every year. Therefore, already after the first 12 months, the following would be obtained:
- an average reduction in individual body mass of 1,3 kg,
- the decrease in the obesity rate in the United Kingdom, by 2,7%. With a further, appreciable advantage.
'The results of this study suggest that increasing the price of high-sugar snacks could be a major contributor to reducing health inequalities caused by diet-related diseases.'. (7)
The increase in the price of the junk food, highlights the study, is able to produce a more favorable effect on low-income families, where higher rates of obesity and related diseases are still found. The taxation of sugars present in ultra-processed foods would in fact force industries that do not intend to lose market share to reformulate products (food product improvement). Thus favoring the poorer sections of the population to choose more balanced foods from a nutritional point of view, compared to the more expensive junk food.
Last but not least, Italian politics
The new minister of Education Lorenzo Fioramonti in turn debuted with an inspirational statement, taxing snacks and sugary drinks. An idea that collects the widest support not only of the writer but above all of millions of parents, pediatricians, the scientific community and civil society. Of all those who care about the health of Italian children and young people, seriously threatened by obesity, overweight and diseases related to poor nutrition precisely because of junk food.
'I'd like some purpose taxes, for example on carbonated drinks and snacks or taxes on polluting flights. The idea is: I do a polluting activity (fly), do I have the wrong fuel system? I put in a small fee and with this I finance useful activities, school and healthy lifestyles'(Lorenzo Fioramonti, Minister of Education, to Corriere della Sera, 19.9.19. See note 8)
The Minister of Education it will be able to demonstrate its seriousness by including education on 'health in schools' in the educational programs. It will be enough to implement effectively as resolved on 17.1.19 in the State-Regions Conference. He will then have to confront the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza to avoid the idea of sugar tax is not killed by 'friendly fire' (di Big food). As happened in April 2017, when the former minister soda tax the excellent idea of the colleague Pier Carlo Padoan.
#sugartax, # Égalité!
Dario Dongo and Sabrina Bergamini
Footnotes
(1) Cohort studies - fundamental in epidemiological research, in medicine as in other fields (eg psychology, social sciences, ecology) are a form of longitudinal study (in the context of observational research). They are made on a more or less large sample of individuals, the so-called cohort, who share one or more characteristics (e.g. date of birth, area of residence), or experience (e.g. consumption of certain foods, exposure to atmospheric pollutants) . Which are subject to periodic analyzes, aimed at assessing the evolution and impact of risk factors, over a more or less extensive period
(2) Amy Mullee, Dora Romaguera, Jonathan Pearson Stuttart. (2019). Association Between Soft Drink Consumption and Mortality in 10 European Countries.
JAMA Intern Med. Sept. 3, 2019. doi: 10.1001 / jamainternmed.2019.2478, su https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2749350
(3) On the so-called artificial sweeteners, see also the previous articles https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/dolcificare/dolcificanti-un-mondo-di-additivi e https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/dolcificare/dolcificanti-zero-calorie-effetto-paradosso
(4) It should be noted that among the 521.330 participants in the research, 69.587 (13,3%) were excluded. In particular, those who:
- have reported early diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer,
- reported implausible dietary intakes, or lack of information on the consumption of soft drinks in the phases of follow-up
(5) See study cited in note 2, abstract. Informal translation by the writers
(6) Modeling studies (modeling studies) use mathematical models to understand, define, quantify and simulate scenarios that may arise from variations in a system. Such as, for example, the adoption of health and / or tax policies. Models are developed by analyzing events over time and across populations, based on data relevant to the context of the assessment, drawn from primary or secondary sources
(7) Pauline FD Scheelbeek, Laura Cornelsen, Theresa M Marteau, Susan A Jebb, Richard D Smith. (2019). Potential impact on prevalence of obesity in the UK of a 20% price increase in high sugar snacks: modeling study. BMJ 2019; 366: l4786. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4786
(8) See article 'School, the new minister Fioramonti: tax on snacks to pay more prof'. Corriere della Sera, 19.9.19
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Journalist. Consumption, rights, nutrition, social, environment. Head of Consumers Help. She collaborated with ResetDOC, Il Riformista, La Nuova Ecologia, IMGPress.
