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New research has found food taxes and subsidies could have a marked impact on Maori health.
A team from Auckland University’s National Institute for Health Innovation, the New Zealand Institute for Economic Research, and Otago University’s economics and public health departments looked at whether targeted food pricing policies can help improve people’s diets.
In a paper published online by the Public Library of Science, lead author Professor Cliona Ni Mhurchu says low income households and especially Maori are extremely sensitive to price changes.
She says taxes on high fat foods or subsidies on healthy foods could alter the diets and nutritional health of these priority populations more than those of high-income and majority ethnic groups.
The research gives weight to calls by public health and anti-poverty groups for health-related food taxes send a clear message to consumers and the food industry about which foods are healthier.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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