The Influence of Taxes and Subsidies on Energy Purchased in an Experimental Purchasing Study

Epstein, Leonard H.; Dearing, Kelly K.; Roba, L.G.; Finkelstein, Eric A.

doi:10.1177/0956797610361446

Cited by 127 publications

(169 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…There is limited research on the influence of taxes and subsidies on nutritional quality of food purchases. Evidence suggests stronger support for taxes than for subsidies as a means of reducing consumption of less healthy foods (40) . It has been estimated that a 10 % increase in soft drink prices would reduce consumption by 8-10 % (43) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pepsi and Coca Cola in Delhi, India: availability, price and sales

Taylor¹,

Satija²,

Khurana³

et al. 2010

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: India is experiencing increased consumption of sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks, consumption that may be associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity. The aim of the study was to determine the availability, price and quantity sold of 'Pepsi' and 'Coca Cola' in their 'regular' and 'diet' forms in Delhi and London. Design: A questionnaire about the availability, price and quantity sold per day of both regular and diet Pepsi and Coca Cola was devised and piloted. Using this, a survey of food and drink outlets within a 100 m radius of randomly selected Metro stations was conducted in both cities. Subjects: Store vendors, owners and staff of food and drink outlets. Setting: Delhi, India; London, United Kingdom. Results: In Delhi, of the outlets stocking regular Pepsi and Coca Cola, only 34 % sold diet versions and these were more readily available in the most affluent areas than in the poorest areas (34 % v. 6 %, Z 5 3?67, P , 0?001). This social patterning was not observed in London. Little price differential between regular and diet versions of Pepsi and Coca Cola was observed in Delhi; however, profit margins were better for regular, relative to diet, Coca Cola. Sales of regular products were significantly greater than those of diet products (P , 0?002). Conclusions: Low availability of diet versions of Pepsi and Coca Cola in less affluent areas of Delhi is likely to exacerbate the obesity and diabetes trends. Price differentials to promote diet versions and other healthier or traditional low-energy drinks may be beneficial. Keywords Sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks Type 2 diabetes ObesityThe nutrition transition occurring in the developing world, of which increased consumption of carbonated drinks is a part, results in the rapid adoption of energydense diets at low cost replacing energy-efficient diets at high costs (1)(2)(3) . Further evidence, although limited to developed countries, suggests that poorer areas provide fewer healthy food options and more energy-dense foods than do more affluent areas (4) . Evidence on consumption rates of soft drinks and processed foods by the Indian population is sparse (5) . Obesity and type 2 diabetes are already becoming major health problems in India (6) , and the health implications of further unchecked growth in the consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks may aggravate the situation further.Systematic review evidence suggests that greater consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks is associated with weight gain in adults and children and increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes in young-to-middle-aged women (7)(8)(9) . No such associations have been found with the consumption of diet drinks (10) . The age-adjusted relative risk for type 2 diabetes among women consuming one or more sugar-sweetened drinks per day compared with those consuming less than one sugar-sweetened drink per month is 1?98 (95 % CI 1?6, 2?4) (10)

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pepsi and Coca Cola in Delhi, India: availability, price and sales

Taylor¹,

Satija²,

Khurana³

et al. 2010

Public Health Nutr.

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“…Healthy food subsidies, on the other hand, increased the total amount of fat, protein and carbohydrates bought. The participants spent the money saved to buy junk food 9 .…”

Section: Healthy Influencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lifestyle: Breaking the cancer habit

Willyard¹

2011

Nature

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“…Also, they found that reducing prices of fruits and vegetables with 50 per cent in school canteens lead to a twofold increase in vegetable and four-fold increase in fruit purchases [40]. Other experimental studies are the work by Epstein and colleagues who conducted a study on several pricing schemes in a laboratory supermarket [42], the work by Nederkoorn and colleagues on a high caloric tax in a web-based supermarket [43], and the work by Giesen and colleagues on taxing high caloric university lunch menus [44]. All these studies revealed significant effects of the price changes.…”

Section: Evidence On the Effectiveness Of Food Pricing Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%