An independent report commissioned by the United Kingdom government has called for a complete change of the food industry in England, with fruit and vegetables to be prescribed by doctors and additional taxes on sugar and salt.
The report says money(raise) by increased taxes could be used to provide improved school meals and support(good) dietary habits among the poorest sections of society.
In addition, improved diets would be better for the environment, and ease the pressure on the National Health Service. Businessman Henry Dimbleby, who led the study, told the BBC that the COVID- 19 crisis had underlined the wider issue of dietary health,(call) it "a painful reality check". "Our high obesity rate has beenmajor factor in the UK's tragically high death rate," he said.
The food industry has expressed concernincreased taxes on sugar and salt could lead to increased prices in shops,Dimbleby rejected this idea. "We do not(actual) believe that for most things it will increase the price — what it will do is that it will reformulate. It (make) people take sugar and salt out," he said.
The report's suggestions, which the government says it will respondwithin six months, have won the backing of several leading charities,(include) the British Heart Foundation.
