People shop at a Sainsbury s supermarket, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, January 12, 2021. [Photo/Agencies]
An independent report commissioned by the government has called for a radical overhaul of the food industry in England, with fruit and vegetables to be prescribed by doctors, and additional taxes on sugar and salt.
The report by the National Food Strategy was commissioned in 2019 and says money raised by increased taxes could be used to provide additional and improved school meals and support better dietary habits among the poorest sections of society.
In addition, improved diet would be better for the environment, and ease strain on the National Health Service. The report says inferior quality diet is a factor in 64,000 deaths each year in England alone, and costs the economy 74 billion pounds ($102.8 billion).
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