Latest news with #sugarydrinks
The National
22-07-2025
- Business
- The National
In the fight against obesity and diabetes, the UAE's new sugar tax policy could be a handy arrow in its quiver
The UAE's decision to switch from a fixed tax on sugary drinks to one that depends on the sugar content per 100 millilitres is a positive step in the fight against obesity and diabetes. Embedding such interventions in holistic approaches to public health is equally important, as humans will always struggle with the innate attractiveness of carbohydrates. While there are a number of ways to induce changes in people's behaviour, economists will invariably suggest using prices. In the case of convincing people to consume less sugar, that means applying a tax that makes sugar-laden commodities more expensive to purchase, also known as a 'sin tax'. This straightforward principle can be applied in different ways. The nation's leadership has long been using a holistic strategy to address the complex problems associated with poor health choices The most straightforward is applying a tax to goods that have high sugar content, which is the approach that the UAE has taken – and many other countries took in the past. The key advantage of this approach is administrative simplicity: authorities need only to determine whether a good is subject to the tax, and then to apply it. One of the most salient applications of this method is cigarettes, which cost consumers a lot more to buy than the production cost due to steep excise duties that governments around the world levy. One of the potential drawbacks to this approach, however, is that it creates an incentive for producers to redefine what constitutes a unit of the good to minimise the tax's impact. This dynamic is illustrated by the 18th-century stamp duty that the British government imposed on newspapers based on the number of pages in an issue. Editors responded by increasing the size of each page and cutting down the number of pages, spawning what is now referred to as the unwieldy 'broadsheet' newspaper. In the context of modern sugary drinks, the analogous process is producers increasing the volume of sugar in drinks either by upping the concentration or simply filling the container with more liquid. Thus, while the tax does make some people less likely to purchase sugary drinks, those who continue to purchase them may end up consuming more sugar than they would have done absent the tax. The result is a muted and potentially indeterminate net effect on the societal consumption of sugar. Governments are aware of this possibility, and some – such as Mexico and the UK – have responded by applying a tax that depends proportionately on the volume of sugar supplied in a unit of the good, rather than the binary (on-off) form that can motivate producers to increase sugar concentrations. This closing of the loophole follows in the footsteps of the highly successful application to petrol. In the earlier part of the 20th century, vehicles were taxed at a flat rate. This created an incentive to purchase bigger cars, and did not dissuade people from driving more since the tax would be paid whether the car stood stationary in your driveway or travelled 100,000 kilometres a year. Once states transitioned towards taxing petrol proportionately, drivers now had an incentive to buy smaller cars, and to use their cars less, switching to walking, cycling and availing of public transport to economise on travel expenditure. This can clearly be seen when comparing the large cars that people own and operate in a low fuel tax environment with the petite ones seen in high fuel tax countries. The UAE is aiming for something analogous to occur in the case of sugary drinks. One of the associated challenges will be administrative: measuring sugar content precisely and ensuring that producers do not fraudulently report the figure require significant resources, and reflect one of the reasons why some governments continue to prefer the flat taxes. The more serious challenge that policymakers are likely to face is that the consumption of sugary drinks makes a small contribution at best to the adverse societal outcomes they are looking to abate – obesity, diabetes, heart disease and so on. After all, several other dietary factors also play a role, as do lifestyle ones such as exercise and sleep patterns. Yet, this is a step in the right direction towards addressing some of the critical public health challenges of our time. And so, the UAE government is correct in its decision to avoid the 'drop in the bucket' fallacy, whereby people defeatedly avoid taking small steps because they believe that the impact will be negligible, even though big results are typically built on accumulated micro efforts. The nation's leadership has long been using a holistic strategy to address the complex problems associated with poor health choices, and there is no doubt that every little helps, including this sugar tax.
Arabian Business
18-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
UAE to introduce sugar tax for beverages from 2026
The UAE will introduce a new tiered sugar tax from 2026 as it looks to promote public health and reduce consumption of sugary drinks. The UAE Ministry of Finance and Federal Tax Authority (FTA) announced a major revision to the excise tax framework on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), introducing a new sugar-based tiered tax system that will take effect in early 2026. Unlike the current flat-rate model, the new system will link the tax per litre of beverage directly to its sugar content per 100ml—meaning the higher the sugar concentration, the higher the tax. UAE sugar tax This reform aligns with the UAE's national health strategy to reduce sugar consumption, combat lifestyle-related diseases, and promote healthier dietary habits among consumers. The amendment reflects a shift toward data-driven policy that incentivises manufacturers to reduce sugar levels in their products and empowers consumers to make more informed choices. It also supports regional efforts to harmonise tax policy across the Gulf and reinforces the strategic use of taxation as a tool to drive sustainable development. Developed in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the new model is part of a long-term strategy to improve public health outcomes through fiscal legislation. Businesses—including importers, suppliers, and manufacturers—will have sufficient time to adapt, with comprehensive awareness campaigns and technical guidance set to launch ahead of the 2026 rollout. Further details, including implementing legislation and compliance requirements, will be released in the coming months.
Medical News Today
10-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
Just 1 hotdog per day could harm your health, study finds
New research has found that eating even small amounts of processed meat may raise the risk of serious diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart study also links sugar-sweetened drinks and trans fats to higher health risks, reinforcing calls to reduce their explained that while the findings show strong and consistent associations, the focus should be on balanced, realistic eating habits rather than strict a new burden of proof study published in Nature Medicine, researchers analyzed data from over 60 previous studies investigating how processed meats, sugary beverages, and trans fatty acids in the diet relate to the risk of developing a range of completing their analysis, the researchers concluded that regularly consuming even small amounts of processed meat, sugary drinks, and trans fatty acids is linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and colorectal data showed that people who ate just one hot dog per day had an 11% greater risk of type 2 diabetes and a 7% higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to those who did not eat processed addition, drinking about a 12-ounce soda daily was linked to an 8% increased risk of type 2 diabetes and a 2% higher risk of ischemic heart study supports previous findings that suggest that eating red meat and sugar may contribute to colorectal cancer among young small amounts of processed meat raise health risksBased on the findings, experts continue to recommend that it is best to avoid or minimise the regular consumption of processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, and industrially produced trans fats in order to improve health risk was found to rise with higher levels of intake, and for processed meats, the data indicated there is no safe level of author Demewoz Haile, PhD, a research scientist at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle, explained the key findings to Medical News told us that:'Habitual consumption of even small amounts of processed meat, sugary drinks, and trans fatty acids is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and colorectal cancer. Processed meats include items such as bacon, sausage, and ham, which typically involve preservatives like salting, curing, or smoking. In our conservative analysis, a daily intake of up to 57 grams—roughly the size of one hot dog—was associated with at least an 11% increased risk of type 2 diabetes and a 7% increased risk of colorectal cancer compared to no consumption.''Similarly, consuming sugary drinks, such as sodas, was linked to adverse health outcomes,' he kept emphasizing that his and his colleagues' study provided a 'conservative analysis' of the health risks associated with processed meat so, he said, the 'analysis showed that commonly observed levels of sugary drink consumption, a daily intake of up to 390 grams (equivalent to 12 ounces), were associated with at least an 8% increased risk of type 2 diabetes and a 2% increased risk of ischemic heart disease.''Industrially produced trans fatty acids were also shown to increase health risks. In this analysis, we focused on trans fats commonly found in processed foods and baked goods such as doughnuts, cookies, pastries, fried foods, and chips.'Demewoz Haile, PhDRegular consumption of these foods, even in small amounts, was associated with at least a 3% increased risk of ischemic heart servings may still raise disease riskIndividuals who habitually consume these foods should be aware of the increased risk of developing chronic diseases linked to their intake, even in moderate is important to note, however, that the studies included in the analysis were observational, meaning they can only show an association between diet and disease risk rather than directly prove cause and addition, the findings relied on participants' self-reported eating habits, which can introduce inaccuracies due to memory errors or with advanced analytical methods, the researchers highlighted that diet data remains limited, which is a common challenge in nutritional nutrition experts, not involved in the study, also spoke to MNT about its Bishoff, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian at Rutsu Nutrition, said that 'one of the most notable takeaways was the relative risk between developing type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer with such small serving sizes of processed meat, indicating that no real amount of processed meat is considered safe.''The equivalent of one hot dog (50 g) per day showed an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 30%, and a 26% increased risk of colorectal cancer. A 50 g [gram] serving is roughly 1.8 oz [ounces] of meat, which many Americans consume much more on a daily basis,' Bishoff Moody, RD, CSSD, LD, registered dietitian at Top Nutrition Coaching, agreed, telling MNT that she 'would strongly caution against patients and the public taking away that the risk of chronic disease is small when consuming these foods.''It's been well-established by prominent entities such as the American Heart Association and WHO [World Health Organization] that trans fats, processed meats, and refined sugars increase risk of chronic disease across the board,' Moody added.'This isn't just because they lead to chronic inflammation, but these foods typically offer little nutrition in terms of micronutrients and antioxidants. Thus, filling one's diet with them displaces foods that promote a longer life and better health, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and unsaturated fatty acids. I urge the public to focus on these foods while only occasionally indulging in the aforementioned products that can cause harm in excess and provide very little benefits to human health.'– Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LDHealthy swaps may be easier than strict eliminationSpeaking of ways in which people can make their diets healthier, Bishoff said 'there are always healthier options that taste great, so don't be afraid to try new products and recipes.'She advised that:'Instead of eliminating foods from your diet, the best approach is to find healthy swaps. For example, many ultra-processed peanut butters and tortillas contain partially hydrogenated oils, which are considered a type of trans fat. Trans fats have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.'Bishoff recommended switch to a natural peanut butter or whole-food based tortillas, for instance, that do not contain hydrogenated oils. Or, 'if you enjoy soda, there are many healthier soda alternatives that contain less than 3–5 g of added sugar and still provide a refreshing and crisp taste without sacrificing your health,' she explained.'[Instead] grilling hot dogs and other processed meats this summer, make vegetable kabobs with a lean or plant-based protein, like tofu,' Bishoff also noted that 'while dietary choices are personal and often influenced by individual and environmental factors, the implications of our findings suggest that people should aim to minimize their consumption of these foods as much as practicable.''Our findings align with widely recognized recommendations, including those made by the WHO and CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]: Avoid or reduce the consumption of processed meats, sugary drinks, and artificial trans fats to the lowest possible level,' the researcher emphasized.
RNZ News
08-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Cook Islands government to consider increasing sugary drinks, alcohol tax proposal
By Losirene Lacanivalu , Cook Islands News Photo: 123RF The proposal to increase taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol will be considered by the Cook Islands Cabinet this month as the Health Ministry ramps up efforts to tackle rising chronic health problems in the country. A draft gazette listing categories of unhealthy products and drinks in the Cook Islands that will face increased taxation has been finalised, according to Health Ministry secretary Bob Williams. The proposed taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol products are aimed at helping combat the increasing cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are affecting over 50 percent of the country's resident population. Following a weeklong consultation on Rarotonga held last month, the Health Ministry has recommended increasing the tariff on sugary drinks and alcohol, and restricting any form of advertising or marketing. These recommendations will be submitted to the Cabinet for endorsement. According to Williams, the endorsement of the Executive Council, which consists of the Cabinet and the King's Representative, would be required to bring the gazette into effect. The Ministry is proposing the recommendations, once endorsed, to come into effect in "six months to allow retailers sufficient time to comply with the marketing restrictions as per the gazette". According to a situation analysis report compiled by Dr Rob Beaglehole, a public health specialist who conducted a comprehensive review of the Cook Islands' NCDs legislation, policies and actions, there are no restrictions on advertising, marketing or sponsorship of sugary drinks. Outside most dairies and petrol stations are signs and flags displaying the logo of a major foreign sugary drink company, the report stated. Cook Islands already has a tax on sugary drinks. The 2017 Tariff Schedule includes an excise tax on "waters, including mineral waters and aerated waters, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured, and other non-alcoholic beverages, not including fruit or vegetable juices". The current tariff is $9.37 per kg of sugar. "For example, a small 330ml can of soft drink containing 10.6gms of sugar per 100ml contains 35gms of sugar which would amount to a tariff of 33 cents. A 1.25l of soft drink containing 132gms of sugar would have a Tariff of $1.24." It was recommended that the 2017 Tariff Schedule 22 be amended and the excise tax on sugary drinks increased by 100 per cent to $18.74 per kg of sugar. TMO has also recommended taxing all artificially sweetened beverage and fruit juices at the same rate and to restrict all forms of advertising, marketing and sponsorship. The Ministry further recommended that there be a mandate on the creation, adoption and enforcement of a single "gold standard" nationwide "Healthy Food and Drink Policy" for all early childhood educations (ECEs), schools and learning institutions, ensuring that it contains a water and nu drink only section. The report stated that these top three recommendations should be prioritised and adopted urgently, "ideally by the end of 2025". Dr Beaglehole stated that his review of the consultations revealed overwhelming public support for the government to instigate an increase in tariff measures. "Politicians need to realise that they've got the support of the public. Because the public knows that, there are massive problems with NCDs. And this taxation tariff is helping reduce consumption." Dr Beaglehole said that some of the tariff could be diverted to TMO to treat NCD cases. Cook Islands' proposed increase in sugar and alcohol taxes aligns with the World Health Organization's strategy of raising US$1 trillion by 2035 through health taxes. According to Reuters, the World Health Organization is pushing countries to raise the prices of sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50 per cent over the next 10 years through taxation, its strongest backing yet for taxes to help tackle chronic public health problems. The United Nations health agency said the move would help cut consumption of the products, which contribute to diseases like diabetes and some cancers, as well as raising money at a time when development aid is shrinking and public debt rising. Cook Islands Cabinet has already approved a significant increase in tobacco tax - NZ$125.50 per 1000 cigarettes or kilogram of tobacco annually for the next three years. In Parliament last month, while debating the TMO budget allocation of $23,400,162, Opposition MP Robert Heather made a plea to the public to "wake up, wake up, wake up!". Heather highlighted the significant increase in funding for the NCD programme, from $100,000 in the last budget to $295,000 this year. "I fully support the proposed taxation on fizzy drinks by the Ministry of Health. I will not elaborate on alcohol and tobacco, as I believe we are responsible for our children for the first 18 years of their lives, nurturing them until they become adults," the United Pary MP said. "We do not feed them alcohol or tobacco, but once they turn 18, they make their own choices." Heather said that the pressing issue people are facing today revolves around the sweets given to children. "When our babies cry, we often soothe them with candy, which has become a part of our lifestyle. We must ask ourselves: who is creating this problem? It is us, the parents. "For instance, we plant coconut trees, and after eight years, they begin to bear fruit. I believe that in this House, we have given our newborns coconut juice. However, this custom is fading, as we often opt for convenience by purchasing ready-made products from stores, forgetting our traditional practices. "This is a reminder that the issue at hand is not solely the responsibility of the Ministry of Health, it is a collective concern we all share. Perhaps we can start making changes in this House, let's choose arrowroot over banana cake, for instance." Opposition leader Tina Browne said that regardless of the price raise for soft drinks, parents are still responsible for the decision of whether to purchase them or not. Browne said that it was unfortunate that many parents will continue to buy drinks, even if they become more expensive. Health Minister Rose Toki-Brown said that non-communicable diseases are one of the primary areas of health expenditure. Toki-Brown said that she believed the MPs all agreed on the necessity of raising taxes on sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco, "as these products pose a significant threat to public health". She said in 2019 they implemented a policy requiring that only water and coconut drinks be served at major Ministry of Health events, prohibiting sugary or alcoholic beverages. "It has come to light that eliminating sugary and alcoholic drinks has resulted in a surplus of funds for both the WHO and our Ministry of Health in the Cook Islands, which have been redirected towards more beneficial health initiatives. "While there is an appropriation for NCDs, the allocated funds are insufficient, which is why I urge that increased taxation on sugary beverages and alcohol be used to allocate more funds specifically for NCDs." - Cook Islands News
CBC
06-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
WHO pitches health tax on sugar; Dating apps are downsizing: CBC's Marketplace cheat sheet
Social Sharing Miss something this week? Don't panic. CBC's Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need. Want this in your inbox? Get the Marketplace newsletter every Friday. Raise prices on sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50%, WHO suggests The World Health Organization is pushing countries to raise the prices of sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50 per cent over the next 10 years through taxation, its strongest backing yet for taxes to help tackle chronic public health problems. The United Nations health agency said the move would help cut consumption of the products, which contribute to diseases like diabetes and some cancers, as well as raising money at a time when development aid is shrinking and public debt rising. "Health taxes are one of the most efficient tools we have," said Jeremy Farrar, WHO assistant-director general of health promotion and disease prevention and control. "It's time to act." WATCH | Shocking amounts of sugar in popular coffee chain drinks: Sugar Shock: Coffee Chains / Buzzkill: Carbonated Drinks 4 years ago Duration 22:30 Shocking amounts of sugar in some popular coffee chain drinks, even ones that seem healthier; lab tests show which sparkling water drinks could harm your launched the push, billed as the " 3 by 35" initiative, at the UN Finance for Development conference in Seville, Spain. WHO said that its tax plan could raise $1 trillion US by 2035, based on evidence from health taxes in countries such as Colombia and South Africa. WHO has backed tobacco taxes and price increases for decades and has called for taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks in recent years. But this is the first time it has suggested a target price increase for all three products. Read more. Is the romance with dating apps over? Big cuts at Bumble, Match raise questions Mass layoffs at dating app provider Bumble are the latest sign that more people are splitting from the high-tech way of making connections. The Texas-based online dating platform disclosed in a securities filing last week that it plans to lay off about one-third of its workforce, amounting to some 240 employees, with an anticipated savings of about $40 million US. Bumble reported a total revenue of about $247 million in its most recent first-quarter earnings, down almost eight per cent from the same period a year ago. "Bumble, like the online dating industry itself, is at an inflection point," Bumble CEO and founder Whitney Wolfe Herd said in a note to employees. The company has been "rebuilding" in recent months, which "requires hard decisions," the note said. A month earlier, Texas-based Match Group — which owns the dating apps Tinder, Hinge and OKCupid — announced plans to cut 13 per cent of its workforce, the company's first big move since CEO Spencer Rascoff took over in February. Read more from CBC's Kevin Maimann. New supply management law won't save the system from Trump, experts say A new law meant to protect supply management might not be enough to shield the system in trade talks with a Trump administration bent on eliminating it, trade experts say. The Bloc Québécois's recently passed Bill C-202 essentially forbids supply management from being used as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations by preventing the foreign affairs minister from making certain commitments. "It's certainly more difficult to strike a deal with the United States now with the passage of this bill that basically forces Canada to negotiate with one hand tied behind its back," said William Pellerin, a trade lawyer and partner at the firm McMillan LLP. "Now that we've removed the digital service tax, dairy and supply management is probably the No. 1 trade irritant that we have with the United States. That remains very much unresolved." When U.S. President Donald Trump briefly paused trade talks with Canada on June 27 over the digital services tax — shortly before Ottawa capitulated by dropping the tax — he zeroed in on Canada's system of supply management. In a social media post, Trump called Canada a "very difficult country to TRADE with, including the fact that they have charged our Farmers as much as 400% Tariffs, for years, on Dairy Products." Canada can charge about 250 per cent tariffs on U.S. dairy imports over a set quota established by the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). The International Dairy Foods Association, which represents the U.S. dairy industry, said in March that the U.S. has never come close to reaching those quotas, though the association also said that's because of other barriers Canada has erected. Read more. What else is going on? 139-year-old company blames economy and consumers' changing diet habits. Marketplace needs your help! We're working on all-new investigations for our upcoming season and we want to hear from you. Got something you think we should investigate? Email us at marketplace@
