Sugar increase in Fanta and Sprite prompts calls for new tax on Australia’s food and drinks industry

In July 2020, the government began rolling out the “partnership reformulation program” to encourage food companies to gradually reduce sugar, sodium and saturated fats in their products.

The president of the Australian Medical Association, Prof Steve Robson, said the increase is evidence governments need to step in and impose a sugar tax on the food and beverage industry.

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Dr Adyya Gupta, from Deakin University’s Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, said the sugar increase in Fanta was “very appalling, given that we understand sweetened beverages are amongst the key contributors to an unhealthy diet”.

Along with a sugar tax, the government needs to prioritise health in trade agreements and policy; better regulate advertising and improve food labelling; and strengthen dietary guidelines, Gupta said.

“I am totally against putting the onus on the individual because it’s just impossible given everything has so much sugar in it, and improving the food environment means implementing measures holding the industry to account.”