Beverage giant Suntory believes that a focus on ‘forward-looking’ sugar reduction will remain crucial for firms to overcome the risk of sugar taxes and achieve significant, long-term growth in the region over the coming few years.
Major Australian beverage firms including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have increased their sugar reduction commitments for non-alcoholic beverage products in a further push to demonstrate the efficacy of industry-led initiatives over taxation.
Public health researchers have pushed for governments to develop policies and guidelines targeting ultra-processed foods (UPFs) as a whole, instead of focusing on individual nutrients such as salt and sugar, based on the findings of a new study report.
Researchers in Thailand have called for the government to pursue more aggressive public health policies in addition to imposing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes in the country after an advanced simulation model revealed that this would have little...
Sugar taxation has remained the most effective for of food taxation when it comes to reducing diet-related diseases as compared to taxes on salt, saturated fat and junk food, according to a recent New Zealand study.
The food and beverage industry in Indonesia has voiced disapproval over the government’s suggestion to tax sugar-sweetened beverages in the country, citing a lack of efficacy data and evidence.
Many APAC governments have explored sugar taxes to some extent over the past few years, but experts now say that although on the surface these appear to have been effective in driving reformulation, consumer behaviour and not taxation is likely to be...
By Rachel Arthur, Elaine Watson, Niamh Michail, Gary Scattergood, Flora Southey
Sugar taxes continue to hit the headlines, so we take a spin around the globe to look at some of the markets where taxes have been introduced or are under debate.
GNT Group is hoping to tap into consumer demands for clean label and natural colours for beverages in the Gulf region, where it believes the introduction of several sugar taxes have heightened demand for healthier options.
The Moroccan Parliament is reviewing its 2020 finance bill including introducing a tax on beverages sweetened with sugar, after cancelling last year’s proposed tax due to pressure from manufacturers.
The Philippines Senate House Committee on Ways and Means expressed ‘dismay’ over the payout of sugar taxes under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act to the ‘intended beneficiaries’ within the sugar industry, particularly sugar farmers.
Japanese F&B giant Suntory has recently revealed its performance in the South East Asian to be stronger than other foreign markets, but also expressed caution over continued growth in the region due to sugar tax implementations.
Most New Zealand consumers have “got the message” about switching to some of the many no- or low-sugar drinks now available, according to the country’s top food and beverage industry association.
Sugar sweetened beverages are one of very few “clearly unhealthy products” that are readily promoted to children and “significantly contribute” to poorer health outcomes as people age, according to a leading health consultant.
Simply “slapping on” a sugar tax to sugar sweetened beverage tax to tackle obesity, diabetes and improving long-term health outcomes when Asia’s ageing population reaches its senior years is misguided, according to the CEO of the Australian Beverages...
A new study from the University of Otago has highlighted the overall effectiveness of sugar taxation in several countries where it has been implemented, but stressed that both taxation design and policy consistency need to be taken into account to increase...
Malaysia has implemented its sugar tax targeting sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the country, which has led major beverage companies to reformulate products in an attempt to curb its impact – but is this enough to meet the government’s goal of combatting...
The Pakistani government will be doubling the country’s sugar tax to 17% as well as implementing a raft of other levies, as revealed in the country’s recent Federal Budget 2019-20 announcement.
Beverage giant F&N Malaysia will be reformulating some 70% of its products to mitigate the effect of the country’s sugar tax, which is due to be implemented on July 1.
Sugar taxes, the growing veganism trend and consumer demands for cleaner labels are propelling innovation in natural food colourings, according to Chr. Hansen.
Soft drinks major thinks healthier drinks is better strategy than price rises
The grand old man of soft drinks in Southeast Asia is facing a year fraught with challenges, but the way it has been preparing for a new sugar tax stands it in good stead for its implementation later this year.
Malaysia has announced the postponement of its sugar tax implementation date by three months, as well as an increase in the sugar content limit for milk-based beverages.
New documentation has highlighted that the New Zealand Ministry of Health is still actively deliberating a sugar tax, even though the government as a whole has already ruled it out.
Fraser and Neave Holdings Bhd (F&N) is hoping to speed up its healthy product innovations instead of resorting to increasing its product prices in order to alleviate the impact of Malaysia’s upcoming sugar tax, said its chief executive.
As Singapore winds up its public consultation on sugar tax, the majority of participants have demanded sugar-reduction methods that extend more broadly across the industry beyond just targeting sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).
As the debate surrounding the possibility of a sugar tax in New Zealand intensifies, industry groups stand firmly against it, whereas some academics and consumers are gunning for it. Here we provide the lowdown on the current state of the debate.
The Malaysian Ministry of Health is encouraging both food service outlets as well as beverage manufacturers to reduce sugar content in beverage products alongside the upcoming implementation of a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax in the country.
As governments across the world grapple with the problem of expanding waistlines, a tax on drinks containing sugar continues to be thrust into public discourse and promoted as a key strategy to tackle the complex and costly problem of obesity, writes...
Celebrity UK chef Jamie Oliver has filmed a video directed at New Zealand Health Minister David Clark, imploring him to ‘listen to the people’ and get a sugar tax passed in the country.
By Rachel Arthur, Elaine Watson, Stephen Daniells, Gary Scattergood, Niamh Michail
Sugar taxes continue to hit the headlines, but the introduction of new legislation is never straight-forward. We take a look at 20 countries around the globe where sugar taxes have been in the news.
Sri Lanka has been accused of backtracked on its fight against diabetes after implementing a 40% reduction in its sugar tax, amidst public outcry describing the move as ‘insane’ and ‘racing backwards’.
The Ministry of Health Singapore (MOH) is considering multiple measures to reduce Singaporeans' sugar intake from sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), including the introduction of a sugar tax and a complete higher-sugar drinks ban.
Here's a recap of our 10 most-read F&B stories in November, featuring the latest on Australian labelling regulations, Malaysia sugar tax, flavour trends, India's milk crisis, new innovations from Nestle and more.
Fraser and Neave (F&N) Holdings Bhd is looking at a possible price increase for 90% of its beverages, following Malaysia’s sugar-sweetened beverage tax announcement.
Food manufacturers in Malaysia, including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, have responded to the upcoming 2019 introduction of sugar taxes on drinks and juice ‘with concern’, saying that this is ‘not an effective policy response’ to combat obesity and chronic disease.
We take a look at the latest findings in food science, including the effects of sugar tax, underutilised foods, ultraprocessed foods consumption and more.
Malaysia will impose an excise sugar tax on sugar-sweetened beverages starting April 1 2019, in an effort to combat rising overweight and obesity levels in the country - but experts are less than optimistic about its efficacy.
Fiscal incentives like a sugar tax and lower-sugar subsidies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption are unlikely to be effective, a new Singapore study reveals.
A 'graded sugar tax model' has been suggested by an expert analyst as an alternative to just soda or sugar taxes in Malaysia's battle against sugar over-consumption.
Malaysian PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has acknowledged the government is contemplating introducing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, after highlighting concerns about the nation's diabetes rates.
New Zealand Health Minister Dr David Clark has told FoodNavigator-Asia that his appointment of a well-known sugar tax advocate does not signal a change in government policy, but has emphasised that food and beverage firms need to do more to slash sugar...
The Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced that health warnings may soon be placed on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), within the next one to two months.
The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union and free-market group the New Zealand Initiative have voiced their opposition to a sugar tax in the country, based on the findings of a government-commissioned report.
Just over three months since Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull quashed calls for a tax on sweetened beverages, the media as well as a coalition of health professionals have relit the torch on the debate.
Sugar taxes are never far from the headlines as governments scramble to deal with rising cases of obesity and diabetes, and their related health costs.
