Taxes And/Or Subsidies On Foods Could Encourage Healthier Eating, Modeling Studies Suggest

A systematic review of simulation (modeling) studies focusing on the impact of food pricing strategies on dietary patterns has found that taxes on unhealthy foods like carbonated drinks and saturated fat might get people to eat healthier foods. The review, by scientists in New Zealand, also found evidence that subsidizing purchases of fruits and vegetables could have a similar positive effect. Eleven of 14 studies that looked at the impact of taxes/subsidies on lower socio-economic groups suggested that food pricing strategies would be associated with “pro-health outcomes”. The researchers urged that further studies be conducted.