Balancing junk food and fresh produce on a weighing scale, symbolizing the sugar tax debate.

Is Sugar Tax the Sweet Solution? Experts Weigh In on Improving the Nation's Health

Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Chief Medical Officer urges broader sugar and salt taxes to combat chronic diseases and boost public health. Is it the right prescription?"

The UK government is facing increasing pressure to expand its current tax on sugary drinks to include a wider range of foods high in sugar, salt, and trans fats. This call to action comes directly from England's chief medical officer, who believes such measures are crucial for tackling preventable diseases.

According to a recent report, ministers are also considering extending the existing soft drinks industry levy to sweetened milk-based beverages and imposing an outright ban on added salt and sugar in baby foods. These proposed changes reflect a growing concern over the impact of unhealthy diets on public health.

The report outlines an ambitious goal to create a healthier England by 2040, emphasizing the need to address five key preventable factors that contribute to chronic diseases and cancers: poor diet, smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and air pollution.

The Argument for Fiscal Measures: Can Taxes Really Change Eating Habits?

Balancing junk food and fresh produce on a weighing scale, symbolizing the sugar tax debate.

Chief Medical Officer Sally Davies argues that the UK government should implement fiscal measures to disincentivize the consumption of foods high in sugar and salt. She suggests using the extra tax revenue to subsidize the sales of fruits and vegetables, making healthier options more accessible and affordable.

Davies highlights the success of the soft drinks industry levy in reducing sugar consumption from soft drinks. However, she notes that further sustained action is needed, as the food industry has failed to meet Public Health England's challenge to reduce sugar in their products by 20%.

Proven Reduction: Evidence suggests that taxes on sugary drinks have led to a decrease in their consumption.
Revenue Potential: Increased tax revenue could be used to subsidize healthier food options.
Industry Impact: Taxes can incentivize the food industry to reformulate products with lower sugar and salt content.

Davies also emphasizes the need for more ambitious targets for cutting salt in food, pointing out that progress in this area has stalled since 2011. She criticizes the government's largely ineffective responsibility deal, which relied on voluntary action by the industry.

Looking Ahead: A Healthier Future for the Nation

To achieve better and more equitable health in the next 20 years, Davies believes that health should be repositioned as one of the primary assets of the nation, contributing to both the economy and happiness. She calls for a composite health index to be established and tracked alongside gross domestic product, including health outcome measures, modifiable risk factors, and the social determinants of health.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1136/bmj.k5411, Alternate LINK

Title: Tax Foods High In Sugar And Salt To Improve Nation’S Health, Cmo Urges

Subject: General Engineering

Journal: BMJ

Publisher: BMJ

Authors: Gareth Iacobucci

Published: 2018-12-21

Everything You Need To Know

What is the primary goal of the proposed sugar and salt taxes, and who is advocating for these measures?

The primary goal is to combat chronic diseases and improve public health. England's Chief Medical Officer, Sally Davies, is urging the UK government to implement broader taxes on foods high in sugar and salt to achieve this. This initiative aims to create a healthier England by 2040.

How does the government plan to utilize the revenue generated from these proposed taxes?

The tax revenue could be used to subsidize the sales of fruits and vegetables, making healthier options more accessible and affordable. This approach aligns with the broader objective of improving public health by encouraging better dietary choices and reducing the consumption of unhealthy foods high in sugar and salt.

What specific actions are being considered regarding the existing soft drinks industry levy and baby food?

Ministers are considering extending the existing soft drinks industry levy to include sweetened milk-based beverages and imposing a ban on added salt and sugar in baby foods. This reflects a growing concern over the impact of unhealthy diets on public health and aims to address these issues proactively, particularly in products targeted towards children.

How effective have previous fiscal measures been in influencing consumer behavior and industry practices, and what are the challenges?

Evidence suggests that taxes on sugary drinks have led to a decrease in their consumption. However, the food industry has failed to meet Public Health England's challenge to reduce sugar in their products by 20%. Additionally, progress in reducing salt in food has stalled since 2011, highlighting the challenges of relying on voluntary action from the industry, as seen with the largely ineffective responsibility deal.

Beyond fiscal measures, what long-term vision does the Chief Medical Officer have for the nation's health, and what key factors are central to this vision?

Sally Davies believes that health should be repositioned as one of the primary assets of the nation, contributing to both the economy and happiness. She calls for a composite health index to be established and tracked alongside gross domestic product, including health outcome measures, modifiable risk factors, and the social determinants of health. Her long-term vision emphasizes the need to address five key preventable factors contributing to chronic diseases and cancers: poor diet, smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and air pollution, to create a healthier and more equitable future.