The government is being urged to consider levying a "calorie tax" on cakes, biscuits and other processed food following the roll-out of the so-called sugar tax.

Companies producing calorie-laden food should be taxed to encourage healthier versions, said Action on Sugar and Action on Salt.

This would hold manufacturers to account and lead to products with "excessive" calories being reformulated with less fat and sugar, the groups said.

It comes after the Soft Drinks Levy came into force in April 2018, with 90 million kilos of sugar said to have been taken out of the nation's diet since.

But campaigners argue that tackling sugar alone will not combat the UK's obesity crisis and are calling for funds raised through the levy to be ring-fenced and put towards tackling childhood obesity.


In response, the government said there are "no plans" to introduce a calorie levy.

Graham MacGregor, professor of cardiovascular medicine at Queen Mary University of London, and chairman of Action on Sugar and Action on Salt, said that the Soft Drinks Industry Levy has been "remarkable and unique" in that it allows for significant product reformulation by manufacturers in order to avoid paying the levy.

He added: "This has already resulted in a much bigger reduction of sugar content of drinks in the UK than originally anticipated, as well as ring-fencing £340 million of income directly from manufacturers, not the public, to spend on improving children's health.

"It is imperative that this levy continues."

Prof MacGregor said the same could be achieved by creating a levy to reduce excess calories, "but we need a firm commitment from HM Treasury and the Department of Health and Social Care to make this a reality".

Katharine Jenner, campaign director of Action on Sugar and Action on Salt, added: "Manufacturers are simply not doing enough.

Image: Campaigners argue that tackling sugar alone will not combat the UK's obesity crisis

"If the government is really committed to helping the less well off, they need to tackle the food industry and a feasibility study needs to be undertaken without delay.

"An 'excess calorie levy' would encourage manufacturers to improve the nutritional quality of their unhealthy foods and, most importantly, tackle the thousands who suffer the consequences of a poor diet, leading to obesity, Type 2 diabetes and cancer."

Reducing saturated fat could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and lower cholesterol, according to the Scientific Advisory Committee.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "There are no plans to introduce a calorie levy.

"We are already reducing exposure to fatty and sugary foods, and are now consulting on further plans to offer clear labelling and more support for individuals to manage their weight."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was criticised by former Tory leadership rival Jeremy Hunt last month for announcing plans to halt the roll-out of so-called "sin taxes" until the conclusion of a "comprehensive review" into their effectiveness.

He pledged to launch a review of these taxes to assess whether they work or "clobber" the poor.

Sin taxes include levies on unhealthy food, drink, alcohol and cigarettes.