Economic nutrition policy tools

As is the case in large parts of the world, the Danish population is affected by an increase in the occurrence of overweight and obesity in all age groups. At the same time, many people are suffering from nutrition-related diseases such as e.g. cardiovascular diseases, some cancers, and type 2 diabetes. This has both human costs as well as huge economic consequences for society. This problem is anticipated to grow to such an extent that it will be necessary to consider the use of new measures to deal with a further increase.

This report from 2007 is analyzing how economic nutrition policy tools are useful in the challenge to combat obesity and poor nutrition.

Economic nutrition policy tools is important health factor

ATV will with this report contribute to the debate about whether and how economic measures can be used as part of the effort to promote healthy nutrition habits. Although the primary focus is on economic tools, the authors viewed these measures in relation to and with interaction of other nutrition policy tools.

The report has the following main recommendations:

• New measures should be applied to combat overweight and obesity as well as nutrition-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes (old age diabetes), and some cancers.
   
• The use of taxes and subsidies on food products should be a serious part of the government’s considerations regarding nutrition policy.
   
• Economic tools should not be used on their own but complementary to other measures, such as information, education, and nutrition labelling.
   
• Before implementing economic tools, exact calculations of the scale and area of the tax changes should be carried out to e.g. secure that the tax changes will have the desired effects.