UK’s chief medical officer calls on Government for drastic measure to stamp out child obesity 

Chicken nuggets, ice cream and Frosties could be taxed under draconian plans to curb childhood obesity.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies may recommend a levy to persuade parents to buy healthier foods.

She has been asked by Health Secretary Matt Hancock to carry out an urgent review into how Britain can halve childhood obesity by 2030.

Such a tax would help ‘nudge’ parents to buy healthier foods, she said, because they were cheaper as well as obviously better for them.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies may recommend a levy to persuade parents to buy healthier foods. She has been asked by Health Secretary Matt Hancock to carry out an urgent review into how Britain can halve childhood obesity by 2030

Dame Sally told BBC News: ‘If you provide a healthy product on the supermarket shelves that will come in cheap.

‘If it’s unhealthy there’s a levy on top of it, which is equivalent to a tax, so parents are then nudged to buy the healthy version because it’s cheaper and they can see it’s healthy.’

Breakfast cereals, chicken nuggets and ice cream – classed as ultra-processed foods – could be targeted, she said.

One child in five who leaves primary school is obese. Ministers have been criticised for failing to address the crisis.

Not a great taste: Breakfast cereals like Frosties have been classed as ultra-processed foods and could be targeted for tax in the review, according to Dame Sally

They announced a new childhood obesity strategy last summer, calling for compulsory calorie labelling on menus and a ban on discounted junk food.

Manufacturers have been set targets for reducing sugar and portion sizes. But the measures are voluntary and do not carry any sanctions.

Campaigners want mandatory food industry targets to cut calories and reduce portion sizes.

There are also concerns over the rising numbers of fast-food outlets, often located close to schools.