Ryan Whittaker, associate consumer analyst at GlobalData, said: “Emulating the UK’s salt reduction program is a strong strategy. Without being overly prescriptive, this strategy brought manufacturers, action groups and other interested parties together and achieved an 11% reduction in salt consumption. Achieving similar results with sugar, without complex legislation, would be a success for both public health bodies and the food and drink industry.”
The company’s report finds that a holistic programme needs to be embraced to reduce sugar consumption in the UK and that relying solely on taxation is not guaranteed to produce the desired results. GlobalData’s findings revealed that 54% of UK respondents said that taxes would not change their purchasing decisions.