Baroness Benjamin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Benjamin on 2016-01-13.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 13 January in response to the oral question from Lord Clinton-Davis on what plans they have to impose a sugar tax on fizzy drinks, whether they will consider introducing a mandatory sugar reduction target on all firms in the food and drinks industry because of the high hidden sugar levels in many everyday foods.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Measures by industry to reduce calories, including from sugar, are important components in any approach to reduce obesity. Some parts of industry have already taken a range of actions to help people eat a healthier diet, but the challenge to make further substantial progress remains.

We will be launching our childhood obesity strategy shortly. It will look at everything, including sugar, that contributes to a child becoming overweight and obese. It will also set out what more can be done by all sides.