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The Minister of Health now admits that budget negotiations led to the failure of a major public health strategy.
On Wednesday, Jøran Hjelmesæth, head of the National Nutrition Council and director of the Center for Morbid Obesity, arrived with a salvo of power after the cuts in taxes on sugar and chocolate:
– I think this is a disaster, and it is terrible that it is possible to destroy so much in such a short time, said Hjelmesæth.
The university professor believes that the cut means pure play with public health. Now he is supported by unexpected teams. It turns out that the Minister of Health has also failed to support this outcome of the budget negotiations:
– I am not happy with these cuts, but in politics sometimes you have to make concessions, says Health Minister Bent Høie in an email in response to Hjelmesæth’s proposal.
Read also: Radbrekker tax cuts: – We sacrifice the future health of children and young people
You should ask the food industry for help
The Health Minister says he will meet with the food industry next week to discuss measures to reduce sugar intake.
– I would like to ask the industry to help ensure that these tax changes do not lead to increased sugar intake, says Høie.
It also refers to a national action plan for a better diet and a letter of intent with food industry players on a healthier diet, and that the government will devise a new strategy against non-communicable diseases, including diabetes and diseases. cardiovascular, this spring.
Also read: Elkjøp ads had fictitious previous prices
Swallow elephants
Jøran Hjelmesæth is glad that Høie is unhappy with the tax cut, but has no meaningful belief that a conversation with the food industry will avoid the negative effect he announced on Wednesday:
– This commitment is not a commitment. There is talk of eating camels, here they have eaten elephants. But it’s good that Høie continues to talk to industry and industry.
But the best way to achieve reduced sugar intake is to keep prices high, says Professor Hjelmesæth:
– Høie probably knows that’s not happening. So how can tax changes not lead to high sugar intake?
As Hjelmesæth points out, prices will fall. The food industry has reacted with a thumbs up and promises of a price party:
– It is a powerful and important package, both in terms of employment in Norway and reduced cross-border trade. And then it is very good that it will lead directly to lower prices among consumers, Rema 1000 manager Trond Bentestuen told Nettavisen on Wednesday.
– A talk hardly helps
Many professionals are shocked by the winner of the Progress Party budget, says Hjelmesæth.
– That they push this forward in a crown time is amazing. When we know that increasing prices is the most effective measure for consumers, it is useless for the minister to kindly ask the industry not to increase sales.
Hjelmesæth will support any new study with an argument to raise rates again.
Also read: Ripped off the shelves after extreme price war: now kiwi traders are taking action
Ingvild Kjerkol of the Labor Party, a parliamentary representative and spokesperson for the Labor Party’s health and care policy, is, like Hjelmesæth, critical of the cut and believes this contributes negatively to the long-term work mentioned by Høie:
– We have previously proposed changes to food VAT. FrP’s budget agreement marks a violation of knowledge-based public health policy. It also strikes a chord during long-term work with the grocery industry and trade to reduce the salt and sugar content in foods sold in Norwegian stores, Kjerkol told Nettavisen on Wednesday.
– Criticism is a slap
Progress Party health policy spokesman Åshild Bruun-Gundersen vigorously rejects Hjelmesæth’s criticism:
– The criticism that comes here is slice boom. The Norwegian tax cuts will ensure, first and foremost, that we bring thousands of jobs to Norway. It doesn’t affect public health if people buy soft drinks and sweets in Norway or Sweden, but it does influence who gets the jobs and which country gets the income.
The important point for the Progress Party is that the level of taxation in Norway should be harmonized with neighboring countries, he maintains:
– Anyone who believes that it is better for people to buy their groceries in Sweden can vote for the Center Party or the Labor Party.
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