Dairy bods slam Government calls to extend sugar tax to milk-based drinks

“It is the belief of the FUW the nutrient profiling modelling undertaken has done a tremendous disservice to nutritional milk products and could detrimentally affect the ways in which such products are viewed by the consumer.”

Dairy UK chief executive Dr Judith Bryans agreed it was unfortunate dairy products had been ‘penalised alongside junk foods’ and called for the exemption of milk-based drinks from the committee recommendations.

She said if the extension was to go ahead it would have a detrimental impact on the marketing of ‘high quality, safe and nutritious dairy products’.

Consequences

“Dairy UK will be engaging with Public Health England, the UK Government and other relevant stakeholders to explain why the new nutrient profile modelling should exclude any product containing more than 75 per cent milk, cheese or yoghurt, on the basis of the contributions they make to children’s nutrient intakes and the benefits they provide,” Dr Bryans said.

Livestock sustainability consultant Dr Jude Capper said enforcing the tax extension could push consumers to buy cheaper drinks, increasing already negative consequences for the industry.

Previous research from the US has proven drinking full-fat milk reduces the risk of obesity in pre-school children, she added.

“It is increasingly important for everyone involved in dairy production to promote the many advantages of milk and dairy products for nutrition and health. We cannot simply sit back and hope somebody else will do it.”