Research
Macro partitioning
Targeted food taxes based on a nutrient scoring system (SSCg3d) or optimized for best health outcomes can avert 2300-3200 cardiovascular deaths per year in the UK primarily by reducing salt intake.
If governments implement food taxes, they must target specific nutrient profiles (like salt) rather than just fat. A well-designed tax can save thousands of lives by reducing salt intake, even if the percentage change in diet is small.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Taxing unhealthy foods, defined by SSCg3d score, might avert around 2300 deaths per annum, primarily by reducing salt intake. Taxing a wider range of foods could avert up to 3200 cardiovascular deaths in the UK per annum.
Why this rating
Based on a mathematical model using aggregate data and meta-analyses.
Source
Could targeted food taxes improve health?
Oliver Mytton et al. · Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health · 2007
DOI 10.1136/jech.2006.047746
narrative_reviewCited 242×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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