Time to get tough on food, booze and tobacco
Want to receive this newsletter straight to your inbox? Sign up here to receive the reporting and intel from the Gastein Health Forum. SNEAK PEEK — Don’t shy away from regulating food, alcohol and tobacco to tackle Europe’s biggest threat to society — chronic diseases — says the head of Austria’s food and drugs agency. […]
Experts believe governments should prioritize regulating harmful ingredients rather than engaging in complex debates about ultra-processed foods to address the growing rates of chronic diseases in Europe. Johannes Pleiner-Duxneuner, managing director of Austria's Food and Drugs Agency, emphasized that non-communicable diseases, diabetes, and obesity are the main threats to society.
He advocated focusing on sugar, salt, alcohol, and tobacco as key killers. In Germany, an expert panel proposed rewarding pharmaceutical companies for investing in the country through clinical trials or manufacturing, but the financing of these incentives remains unclear. Meanwhile, the European Commission is seeking input on defining ultra-processed foods, assessing their health impacts, and tracking consumption patterns.
Tobacco regulation continues to be contentious, with the EU considering measures like raising cigarette taxes and setting minimum levies for various nicotine products. Efforts to curb sugary drink consumption are gaining traction, with countries like the UK and Austria exploring sugar taxes to address obesity rates, especially among young people.
Education plays a crucial role in these efforts, particularly when implemented early, such as in kindergarten or early school years, as it has been shown to be seven times more effective than targeting teenagers.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
