Tag: Diet (nutrition)

Why does Big Food hold such a powerful grip on Australian food and nutrition policy? The political power of Big Food The Four Corners program is consistent with our prior research showing that Big Food’s power to obfuscate, delay and undermine food and nutrition policy reform stems from several sources. Read more: Fat nation: the rise and fall of obesity on the political agenda Many tactics used by these transnational, economic titans sway public policy against what health research shows is the best way forward. Four Corners showed Big Sugar’s power also comes through its economic and political importance in the swing “sugar states” of Northern Australia. Evidence for a sugar tax Geoff Parker, CEO of the Australian Beverages Council, told Four Corners that policymakers have not implemented a sugary drinks tax because they “look to the evidence base”. Over half of free sugars is estimated to come from sugary drinks. Read more: What the world can learn from Mexico's tax on sugar-sweetened drinks Of course a sugary drinks tax is no silver bullet. Obesity is in-turn only one among several nutrition problems that will need to be tackled if Australia’s overall disease burden is to be reduced. Going forward, the most effective and efficient activity to promote good nutrition and prevent diet-related diseases, is a coherent national nutrition policy based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Such a policy will involve governments, nutrition scientists, industry and civil society working together across the food system – from food production through to retail – to promote consumption of five food group foods and the avoidance of discretionary foods.