The UK is considering several measures to help people eat more healthily. The government asked a food expert to come with some ideas. The expert is Henry Dimbleby, the founder a chain restaurants. Mr Dimbleby created the National Food Strategy and presented it to the UK government earlier this week. The strategy included two main ideas. One is a tax food containing salt and sugar, which the media have called a "snack tax". The second idea is to give vegetables to poorer people free. Mr Dimbleby warned that what we eat, and how it is produced, is doing "terrible damage" the environment and our health. Poor diet leads to 64,000 deaths a year in England and puts great pressure hospitals.
Despite the government asking the strategy, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is not happy it. He said he could not support it because he was "not attracted the idea of extra taxes hard-working people". Mr Johnson said the strategy could increase the price snack food up to 13 per cent. He added that the best way to tackle obesity and to encourage healthier lifestyles was for people to exercise and eat less junk food. Mr Dimbleby said: "With the right leadership government, it is well our power to change the system so it makes both us and the planet healthier." He added: "We must now seize the moment to build a better food system our children and grandchildren."
