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The already delayed childhood obesity strategy will not be published until the summer, the government has said, and it is unlikely to include a sugar tax.
The news from the Department of Health will anger health charities and campaigners, who have backed a sugar tax and say there is an urgent need for action. Cancer Research UK accused the government of failing children, saying that every day counted.
“David Cameron has called children’s obesity a crisis and yet the government has failed the next generation by stalling on one of its own health priorities,” said Alison Cox, CRUK’s director of prevention. “While the government delays, more children will become obese.
“Our survey shows people want the government to act to fight children’s obesity – eight out of 10 think it’s a problem. To help prevent thousands of cancer cases we want a ban on junk food ads during family viewing times, a sugary drinks tax and more sugar taken out of food. The future health of our children depends on strong action right now.”
The childhood obesity strategy was expected in December but delayed amid speculation that the campaign for a sugary drinks tax – supported by restaurateur Jamie Oliver, medical charities and the House of Commons health select committee – had become embarrassingly popular for a government disinclined to interfere with the market by imposing new taxes.
The launch of the strategy was then said to have been scheduled for January, which slipped to February or even March. Now the department says publication will be in the summer.
“It is a very complex issue and there is a lot of work going on to get it right,” said a Department of Health spokesperson. “There are a lot of different issues that need considering and we want to make sure it is right when we put it out. David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt have said they want it to be a game-changing moment.”
It appears increasingly unlikely that the measures will include a sugar tax, although David Cameron has said that is not off the table. “As far as I’m aware it’s not in there. We as a government are committed to keeping taxes low and not introducing new taxes. I don’t think it will be in there,” said the spokesperson.
Ben Reynolds, of the Children’s Food Campaign, which has been working with Jamie Oliver to press for a sugary drinks tax, said: “It would be disappointing if a sugary drinks tax is not included.”
He said they understood that the government might instead intend to put pressure on the food and drinks industry to act by cutting sugar and making products healthier, with the threat of fiscal action if they do not comply.
If so, said Reynolds, “we would like to see a timescale and some metrics on how they judge that industry has responded. A vague threat is nothing without that.”
A voluntary levy on sugary drinks in Jamie Oliver and Leon restaurants has raised £50,000 so far, which the charity will distribute to health and educational causes.
Tam Fry, of the Child Growth Foundation, said: “This constant delay in publishing the childhood obesity strategy is unforgivable and the statement that they ‘want to get it right’ is the most ridiculous and lame excuse. The Department of Health, and No 10 who is pulling its strings, have had literally months to get it right and it is a fair bet that its essential elements have been finalised for some time.
“In the words of the England’s chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, the current epidemic is a national emergency, which should be tackled by immediate action at Cobra level and not put off at the whim of any politician. Health secretary Jeremy Hunt regards childhood obesity as a great scandal and has promised draconian and robust action to address it. But what have we got? Total inaction.”
Childhood obesity is of increasing concern to health experts. In 2013, 29% of children aged two to 15 in England and Scotland and 34% in Wales were either overweight or obese. In year six, just before children leave primary school, 20% of boys and 17% of girls were obese, according to figures collected by the child measurement programme.
Obesity is a risk factor for long-term health problems that are becoming an increasing burden on the NHS, such as type 2 diabetes, which now accounts for nearly 10% of the entire NHS budget.
