As a campaign opposing the government’s plans to tax sugary soft drinks gets underway today (see story in Industry News for further details), the Children's Food Trust is reiterating its support for bringing in the tax, as one of many steps required if we’re going to get children eating better and create a healthier environment.
CEO Linda Cregan (pictured) said, “Sugary soft drinks are a big source of sugar in children’s diet, particularly as they get older, and don’t give children any nutritional value. So we welcome every step to encourage us all to buy sugary soft drinks less often, and to keep manufacturers focused on reformulation of their products.
“But we have to remember that this tax isn’t a silver bullet – it’s just one tool to help in the fight to get children eating and drinking more healthily, and we look forward to the full set of ‘game-changing’ actions government has promised to deliver in the forthcoming childhood obesity strategy.”
The Children's Food Trust is part of the Obesity Health Alliance, a group of more than 30 national organisations championing effective policy to reduce child obesity.