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Cited by 169Global Public Health Policies and EpidemiologyConsumer Attitudes and Food LabelingEconomics of Agriculture and Food Markets

Modelling income group differences in the health and economic impacts of targeted food taxes and subsidies

Nnoaham, K. E, Sacks, G., Rayner, M., Mytton, O., Gray, A.·2009·International Journal of Epidemiology
DOI 10.1093/ije/dyp214
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects, by income group, of targeted food taxes and subsidies on nutrition, health and expenditure in the UK. METHODS: A model based on consumption data and demand elasticity was constructed to predict the effects of four food taxation-subsidy regimens. Resulting changes in demand, expenditure, nutrition, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality were estimated. Data Expenditure data were taken from the Expenditure and Food Survey; estimates of price elasticities of demand for food were taken from a report based on the National Food Survey 1988-2000. Estimates of effect on CVD and cancer mortality of changing fat, salt, fruit and vegetable intake were taken from previous meta-analyses. RESULTS: (i) Taxing principal sources of dietary saturated fat is unlikely to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cancer mortality. (ii) Taxing 'less healthy' foods (defined by the WXYfm nutrient profiling model) could increase CVD and cancer deaths by 35-1300 yearly. (iii) Taxing 'less healthy' foods and subsidising fruits and vegetables by 17.5% could avert up to 2900 CVD and cancer deaths yearly. (iv) Taxing 'less healthy' foods and using all tax revenue to subsidize fruits and vegetables could avert up to 6400 CVD and cancer deaths yearly. Few obesity-related CVD deaths are averted by any of the regimens. All four regimens would be economically regressive and positive health effects will not necessarily be greater in lower-income groups where the need for dietary improvement is higher. CONCLUSIONS: A targeted food tax combined with the appropriate subsidy on fruits and vegetables could reduce deaths from CVD and cancer.

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Crossref · 10.1093/ije/dyp214

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  • On the basis of food consumption data and demand elasticity in the United Kingdom, the combination of taxing less healthy foods and using this revenue to subsidize the price of fruits and vegetables was estimated to sufficiently alter consumption to prevent >6000 deaths from CVD and cancer annually.

    “On the basis of food consumption data and demand elasticity in the United Kingdom, the combination of taxing less healthy foods and using this revenue to subsidize the price of fruits and vegetables was estimated to sufficiently alter consumption to prevent >6000 deaths from CVD and cancer annually.175”

    From Population Approaches to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2012) · cites this paper as [175]

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Authors
Nnoaham, K. E., Sacks, G., Rayner, M., Mytton, O., & Gray, A.
Affiliations
  • British Heart Foundation (GB)
  • Deakin University (AU)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
Corresponding author
Nnoaham, K. E
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Epidemiology
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2009-05-29
Volume
38
Issue
5
Pages
1324-1333
ISSN
  • 0300-5771 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-3685
DOI
10.1093/ije/dyp214
OpenAlex
W2102125830
Cited by
169
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 13
FWCI
22.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • International Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Deakin Research Online (Deakin University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economics of Agriculture and Food Markets
Keywords
food taxation, food subsidies, cardiovascular mortality, cancer mortality, nutrient profiling, fruit and vegetable subsidies, dietary fat intake, salt intake, obesity, regressive taxation, food expenditure, nutrition policy, health impact modelling
MeSH terms
Cardiovascular Diseases, Diet, Female, Food, United Kingdom, Health Promotion, Humans, Income, Male, Neoplasms, Socioeconomic Factors, Taxes, Nutrition Policy, Models, Economic

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