Abstract

GONCALVES, Carla; CORDEIRO, Tânia  and  BENTO, Alexandra. Economic approaches used to healthy eating promotion on Europe: tax and subsidy. Acta Port Nutr [online]. 2016, n.6, pp.24-30. ISSN 2183-5985.  https://doi.org/10.21011/apn.2016.0605.

Introduction: The use of economic measures to promote healthy eating behavior has been considered by several countries to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Objectives: Our study aims to conduct a review of the impact of economic measures, such as tax and subsidies on food, to promote healthy eating in European countries. Methodology: The collection and analysis of the policies described in scientific articles, government documents and regulations available in the countries of Europe was performed. Next, an analysis of the impact of these measures on consumption and health based on available evidence was conducted. Results: The European countries with the use of taxation on food for healthy eating promotion are Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland and the United Kingdom, and with the use of subsidies is the UK. The commonly taxed products are soft drinks and other beverages with added sugar or sweeteners and in the case of nutrients are sugar and fat. Efficacy studies of these measures are scarce. The vast majority of studies is provisional models of the adoption of these measures on consumption and health; only Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary and Ireland have observational studies, and they show that taxation of products could reduces the consumption. Conclusions: The analysis performed suggests that economic measures to promote healthy eating when used as part of a concerted food policy can contribute to improving food habits. This study suggests that the use of economic measures has the potential to change population food consumption; however, there is little evidence about the impact in the medium and long-term health and in the prevalence of NCDs. The adoption of these measures by the governments should be part of a concerted food policy and consider a number of factors discussed in the article.

Keywords : Europe; Obesity; Food policy; Subsidies; Taxation.

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