Entertainment

Mick Jagger backs report calling for sugar and salt tax

The veteran rocker made a surprise contribution to the debate on the National Food Strategy.
The veteran rocker made a surprise contribution to the debate on the National Food Strategy. The veteran rocker made a surprise contribution to the debate on the National Food Strategy.

Sir Mick Jagger has voiced his support for a report calling for a tax on sugar and salt.

The Rolling Stones frontman, 77, praised the National Food Strategy’s proposals and said they would lead to a “big change for the better” in society.

Led by businessman Henry Dimbleby, the report suggests a tax on certain items could be spent on inequalities around food, including expanding free school meals and providing health food to low-income families, to protect both public health and the environment.

However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he is “not attracted to the idea of extra taxes for hardworking people”.

Sir Mick shared a link to the document on Twitter and wrote: “This report by @food_strategy has some interesting and far reaching ideas that would mean a big change for the better in our food system and make us all healthier.

“I hope that these plans will be taken up by this Government.”

The independent review warns that what we eat, and how it is produced, is doing “terrible damage” to the environment and health.

It suggests our diet contributes to 64,000 deaths a year in England, and drives wildlife loss and climate change, which in turn puts food security at risk.