Obesity experts have slammed a pledge by Australia’s largest beverage makers to cut their use of sugar by 20 per cent within the next seven years.
The Australian Beverage Council announced on Monday that most of its members, including the makers of Coke and Pepsi, would reduce sugar across all categories of non-alcoholic drinks by 2025.
But the Obesity Policy Coalition’s Jane Martin said if the nation wanted to put an end to increasing obesity rates, a sugary drinks tax of 20 per cent must be implemented instead, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Obesity experts have slammed a decision to by Australia’s largest beverage makers to reduce their use of sugar, labelling it ‘window dressing’
Coca-Cola already has a plan in place to reduce provision of sugary soft drinks by 10 per cent by 2020
‘The industry’s announcement is window dressing. It’s not about making products 20 per cent less sugary; it’s about sales volume,’ she said.
Her sentiments were echoed by fellow at Deakin University’s Global Obesity Centre, Associate Professor Gary Slacks.
‘This pledge is likely to be just smoke and mirrors… a further attempt by the industry to stave off a tax on sugary drinks,’ he said.
University of Melbourne global health expert Professor Rob Moddie claimed the pledge was ‘a scam’ because with sales dropping, ‘they’d probably reach the (10 per cent reduction by) 2020 target without changing the sugar content at all’.
The pledge aims to put a higher proportion of low – or no – sugar drinks on the shelves, as opposed to reducing the amount of sugar in the beverages themselves.
In a statement, Coca-Cola Amatil group managing director Alison Watkins said the pledge represented the brand’s pre-existing commitment to healthier lifestyles.
‘It builds on our commitment of a 10 per cent reduction in sugar content across our portfolio of sales by 2020. We’re on track to meet that target and look forward to delivering on today’s pledge as well,’ Ms Watkins said.
Health Minister Greg Hunt, who was at the announcement, said in a statement: ‘The Turnbull Government supports considered and appropriate action to tackle obesity, and encourages all Australians to live healthier lives.’
The Obesity Policy Coalition’s Jane Martin (pictured) said: ‘It’s not about making products 20 per cent less sugary; it’s about sales volume’
The plan is designed to offer a higher proportion of low – or no- sugar options
According to the Victorian Cancer Council, there are 10 teaspoons of sugar in a 375mL can of Coca-Cola.
An assessment of the new pledge will be conducted in 2020 by an independent auditor with a goal of a 10 per cent reduction.
The auditing process is based on annual sales weighted volume data as of January 1, 2016.
The auditor will consider individual company portfolios confidentially to measure progress and contribution to the industry’s pledge.