Lecture Notes: Addressing Diet and Health Through Food Pricing Policies

Introduction

• Current Situation:
  • Iceberg lettuce priced at $10, chocolate bars at $1.25.
  • Rising fruit and vegetable prices; junk foods often on sale.
  • Poor diets linked to increasing deaths (heart disease and type 2 diabetes in Australia).

Public Health Researcher's Perspective

• Objective: Improve diets and save lives by balancing food prices.

Proposed Policy

• Taxation of Junk Foods:
  • Implement a 20% tax on junk foods (confectionery, snack foods, sugary drinks).
  • Objective: Discourage unhealthy eating habits by making junk foods more expensive.

Evidence and Impact

• Existing Models:
  • 10 countries already taxing junk foods.
  • Previous success with tobacco taxation leading to reduced smoking rates.
• Potential Benefits:
  • Revenue from junk food taxes to subsidize and reduce fruit and vegetable prices by 20%.
  • Estimation: Improved diets and prevention of heart disease and type 2 diabetes cases.

Research Focus

• PhD Research:
  • Interviews with citizens and policymakers regarding support and effectiveness of the proposed policy.
  • Developing a mathematical model to predict policy impact on food choices and health.
  • Focus on effects on vulnerable populations.

Hypothesis and Future Actions

• Hypothesis:
  • Significant improvement in diets and prevention of diseases annually.
  • Promotion of equity, aiding low-income families in choosing healthier options.
• Next Steps:
  • Campaign for policy adoption.
  • Advise government on the policy benefits.

Conclusion

• Vision:
  • A future where healthy foods are more affordable than junk foods (e.g., chocolate bars at $10, iceberg lettuce at $1.25).

Closing

• Call to Action: Support and consider the potential of this policy for better health outcomes.