Leon founder Henry Dimbleby to propose salt tax
Henry Dimbleby, the founder of restaurant chain Leon, has been tasked by Boris Johnson to make recommendations on the reduction of fat, sugar, salt and red meat consumption as part of the Government’s National Food Strategy.
Dimblebly is believed to be about to propose the introduction of a salt tax, based on 2018’s sugar tax that adds a 18p per litre levy to products high in the sweetener.
The millionaire restaurateur will recommend a 6% tax on products high in salt, such as bacon, crisps, pizza and many other fast-food items, like burgers and hot dogs. Under the new proposal, a large cheese and tomato Margherita pizza, currently costing an average of £15.99, would go up by 96p.
John O’Connell, Chief Executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, wrote about the soon-to-be proposed tax in a tweet today (02.07.2021): “Middle-class meddling that will hit the poorest families hardest. The high priests of the nanny state can never resist reaching into taxpayers’ pockets”.
The move follows the Government advertising ban of foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) before the 9pm watershed and online, in a bid to tackle obesity and other health conditions.
28% of British adults are classified obese and 63% are overweight. With the COVID-19 pandemic these figures are thought to be higher, but the latest data is yet to be available.
