The World Health Organisation has asked the Government to substantially raise taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol. It feels that the current taxes are too low in many parts of the world.
Several countries have excise taxes on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs), but experts debate on its effectiveness.
Speaking to ChiniMandi, industry veteran G K Sood said that taxes haven’t helped curb sugar consumption.
“Globally, there are several instances where higher taxes on high-sugar products have merely pushed food and beverage companies to reduce sugar content to a level which does not attract tax, while compensating for taste by substituting it with alternative chemicals such as sorbitols and other harmful chemicals. These chemicals do much harm to the body and are known to have carcinogenic elements. On the contrary, sugar is a natural product,” he said.
Sood said that consumers should be given the final choice to take the conscious decision about their daily sugar intake. He stated, “Proper education and awareness are the key. Sugar is healthy in moderation. It is an important nutrient which the body requires”.
The emphasis should be on lifestyle. “We have to include a strict exercise regime, and not cut down on the food we intake. Lifestyle ailments are inevitable, even if one does not consume sugar at all,” he concluded.
