A Nova Scotia senator wants the federal government to implement a tax on sugary drinks.
Kelvin Ogilvie of Wolfville chairs a senate committee that recently released a report called ‘Obesity in Canada.’
He says other jurisdictions have a tax and it has helped people make healthier choices.
“Hungary, for example, has a tax of 29 percent; It’s led to a 27 percent reduction in soda pop consumption. Mexico uses 10 and it claims a reduction of 12 percent in soda pop consumption.”
The committee report also recommends introducing subsidies on healthy food and rewriting Canada’s Food Guide.
He says the guide should give people better advice like eating raw vegetables and making meals themselves.
The report states two out of three Canadian adults are overweight or obese.
It will be debated and discussed by the senate.
If the report passes, recommendations will be forwarded to the federal government.
Meanwhile, Nutritionist Kathy Smart thinks it’s a great idea.
She says the World Health Organization has linked sugar directly to obesity and warns against dangers of juices high in sugar.
“We weren’t meant as humans to ever drink the juice of about the equivalent of ten oranges all at once,” said Smart.
Smart says eating an apple or an orange in its natural state has enough fibre for the body to absorb natural sugar.
And advises parents water down juices and sugary drinks eventually replacing them with pure water over time.
