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Mexico's congress accused of caving to soda pop industry in tax cut plan
Source: The Guardian
Mexico's congress accused of caving to soda pop industry in tax cut plan
David Agren in Mexico City
Monday 19 October 2015 23.32 BST
Mexico’s congress has been accused of caving into pressure from the fizzy drinks industry after agreeing to cut a groundbreaking tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
Studies had shown that the tax, introduced in January 2014, had started to curb soda consumption in a country confronting crises of childhood obesity and diabetes.
The finance commission in the lower house of Congress approved halving the tax on sweetened drinks if the sugar content is less than five grams per 100 millilitres – an incentive for beverage producers to offer more low-calorie options, according to lawmakers with the right-leaning National Action Party (PAN).
But public health groups and some opposition politicians accused lawmakers of caving to pressure from drinks manufacturers and taking an incorrect approach to lowering calorie consumption.
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David Agren in Mexico City
Monday 19 October 2015 23.32 BST
Mexico’s congress has been accused of caving into pressure from the fizzy drinks industry after agreeing to cut a groundbreaking tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
Studies had shown that the tax, introduced in January 2014, had started to curb soda consumption in a country confronting crises of childhood obesity and diabetes.
The finance commission in the lower house of Congress approved halving the tax on sweetened drinks if the sugar content is less than five grams per 100 millilitres – an incentive for beverage producers to offer more low-calorie options, according to lawmakers with the right-leaning National Action Party (PAN).
But public health groups and some opposition politicians accused lawmakers of caving to pressure from drinks manufacturers and taking an incorrect approach to lowering calorie consumption.
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/oct/19/mexico-soda-tax-cut-pop-fizzy-drinks
