The report, which is written by Henry Dimbleby with input from an army of advisers, leads with the sugar and salt reformulation tax as its number one recommendation. Part 1 was published at the end of July 2020.

In total, the report makes 14 recommendations. They include proposing a £1bn investment in innovation, incorporating £125m spent on researching and developing alternative proteins, defining minimum standards for trade, and ways to protect them and mandatory reporting for large food companies.

“The Government should introduce a £3/kg tax on sugar and a £6/kg tax on salt sold for use in processed foods or in restaurants and catering businesses,”​ Part 2 states.

“The tax would apply to all sugar and other ingredients used for sweetening (such as syrups and fruit extracts, but not raw fruit) at a rate of £3/kg. This is approximately the same rate as the current Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), which the sugar tax would replace.”

“It would apply at a rate of £6/kg to all salt sold for use in food manufacturing. As salt is used in much smaller quantities than sugar, the rate needs to be higher in order to achieve an impact.”

The 14 recommendations

1. Introduce a sugar and salt reformulation tax. Use some of the revenue to help get fresh fruit and vegetables to low income families.

2. Introduce mandatory reporting for large food companies on food waste and sales of: high fat, sugar or salt products excluding alcohol; protein by type and origin; fruit and veg; fibre, saturated fat, sugar and salt; total food and drink.

3. Launch a new ‘Eat and Learn’ initiative for schools.

4. Extend eligibility for free school meals.

5. Fund the Holiday Activities and Food programme for the next three years.

6. Expand the Healthy Start scheme.

7. Trial a ‘Community Eatwell’ programme, supporting those on low incomes to improve their diets.

8. Guarantee the agricultural payments budget until at least 2029 to improve sustainable land use by farmers.

9. Create a rural land use framework based on the Three Compartment Model.

10. Define minimum standards for trade, and a mechanism for protecting them.

11. Invest £1bn in innovation to create a better food system.

12. Create a National Food System Data programme.

13. Strengthen Government procurement to ensure taxpayer money is spent on healthy and sustainable food.

14. Set clear targets and bring in legislation for long-term change.

Source: foodmanufacture.co.uk

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