EU policies are aimed at limiting the consumption of high-sugar, salt and trans-saturated fatty acid products as part of the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases - obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. In this regard, a bill for a public health tax is submitted in Bulgaria.
The aim of this paper is to examine the attitudes of the food industry on the introduction of the harmful food tax.
Fifty-one food and drink business operators divided into two groups were interviewed. More than half of them (56.8%) do not approve of the introduction of the tax. Over 2/3 (72.5%) are not of the opinion that the products they manufacture are high in sugar, salt and trans-saturated fat, and will not change the technological documentation of the food they produce. For 45%, the mark (red circle) on the manufacturers‘ labels will not lead to a change in consumer choice and 62.7% believe that there will be no change in the food and drink production.
The opinion expressed by the food and drink business operators about the introduction of a public health tax is crucial to the redirection of the production of unhealthy foods. According to the study, the taxation of so-called unhealthy foods will not lead to a change in production. It would be more appropriate to regulate the quantitative content of certain ingredients (sugar, salt, trans-saturated fatty acids, caffeine).
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