Investigating the impact of a salt and sugar tax on health and environmental outcomes

Action is urgently needed by UK policymakers to tackle the causes of obesity and diet-related disease, as well as acting to reduce the environmental impact of our food system. 

This policy briefing summarises research by Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems (SHEFS) which models the possible effects on food choice of a salt and sugar tax, as recommended in the 2021 National Food Strategy (NFS). It looks at the impact of consumers substituting frequently consumed foods for lower salt and sugar alternatives within the same food category, assessing the affordability of such swaps, and modelling the impact they might have on healthy weight and the environment. 

The research finds that even very small swaps within just eight commonly consumed food categories (therefore likely to be realistic for the general population) can have notable impacts on both healthy weight at a population level and several environmental impact outcomes. 

The findings support the introduction of targeted fiscal incentives for reformulation, such as a salt and sugar tax, ensuring that any potential risk to people on low incomes is minimised.