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The Last Word with Matt Cooper
We have all heard that sugar is the ingredient we need to reduce in our diets and that a sugar tax on high sugar drinks would help tackle obesity. A new study in the British Medical Journal however, has said that a tax on high sugar snacks would be more effective on reducing obesity than what is currently in place. The research has said that a 20% levy on sugar rich foods, could lead to a 1.3 kilogram average waist loss per person in a year. Maeve Hanan, a registered dietitian with Orla Walsh Nutrition and Conor McMahon, deputy editor with Fora.ie joined us in studio to discuss this idea of a snack tax. When it comes to imposing a levy like the sugar tax, Conor warned that it can create an opportunity for companies to create alternatives to sugar. Dietitian Maeve Hanan, also highlighted during the discussion that it would be difficult to draw the line between what foods should and should not be included in a snack tax. Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page.