The burden of noncommunicable diseases is growing rapidly across sub-Saharan Africa. The conditions, which include obesity and diabetes, are now leading causes of premature deaths...
Mulenga Mary Mukanu 23 Apr 2021
Three years ago South Africa introduced Africa's first major tax on sugar-sweetened beverages based on grams of sugar. The tax now stands at about 11% of the price per litre...
Karen Hofman 12 Apr 2021
Diet-related diseases are major public health problems in SA. But many in the food industry strongly oppose globally recommended policies that could address these issues...
Gary Sacks, Eric Crosbie and Melissa Mialon 30 Jul 2020
In a study on the political activities of the soft drinks industry in the lead up to South Africa introducing a sugar tax, we outlined the complex and systematic way in which big corporations and business associations misrepresented evidence to the country's National Treasury...
Gary Fooks, Gary Sacks, Graham Box & Simon Williams 1 Nov 2019
For the first time in human history there is a proposal on the table that all the world's people follow the same diet...
Issued by Association for Dietetics in South Africa 19 Mar 2019
Rapid urbanisation and associated changes in people's lifestyle means Africa faces a growing obesity problem...
Dickson Amugsi 30 Jan 2018
Changing behaviour is difficult - particularly amidst million-dollar advertising onslaughts...
Deborah Minors 18 Jan 2018
Many South Africans are going hungry...
Xikombiso Mbhenyane and Irene Labuschagne 4 Dec 2017
The "buddy" Coke size has been reduced to 440ml and there will be no more 500ml bottles on the shelves after next month, as Coca-Cola attempts to cut its customers' sugar consumption...
Implementation of the health promotion levy - previously known as the sugar-sweetened beverages tax - will be delayed until April 2018...
Cosatu, Busa and Sasasay introducing a sugar tax should be delayed as it will have a negative effect on employment in the industry...
Insight Survey's latest SA Fruit Juice Landscape Report 2017 carefully unfolds the global and local fruit juice markets based on the latest information and research...
Issued by Insight Survey 17 May 2017
BevSA is asking for more time for a total dietary study to be done on obesity before the new tax on SSBs is introduced...
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's announced in his Budget speech on 22 February 2017 that there would be further consultations on the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages...
If you enjoy a cigarette with your rum and coke, your wallet will face a triple threat this year...
Bianca Capazorio 22 Feb 2017
The new tax on SSBs can't stand alone in addressing obesity and related lifestyle diseases, and must form part of an integrated education plan...
The soft-drinks industry has proposed a raft of measures to reduce the daily number of calories consumed as an alternative...
Linda Ensor 1 Feb 2017
The WHO executive board has decided not to make recommendations to member states to impose a soft drinks tax...
The Minister of Finance announced in the February 2016 National Budget a decision to introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), with effect from 1 April 2017...
Issued by Association for Dietetics in South Africa 18 Jan 2017
Coca-Cola's claims that their SSBs are not linked to obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease will be tested in a lawsuit...
Sharon Snell 9 Jan 2017
BevSA says sugar intake is best controlled by education and product reformulation...
Econex says demand sugar-sweetened beverage consumption will not fall as sharply as the policy paper predicts..
Tamar Kahn 7 Dec 2016
Reducing the energy content of sugar-sweetened drinks would be a more effective way to combat obesity than implementing a sugar tax, according to research commissioned by beverage industry association BevSA...
Tamar Kahn 7 Dec 2016
The world is in the midst of twin epidemics of obesity and diabetes, often lumped together as diabesity. It has been estimated there are more than 1bn people who are obese.
James Rippe 29 Nov 2016
Considering the high incidence of diabetes it remains vitally important to continue educating South Africans and address the myths that are often associated with this lifestyle disease...
Issued by Association for Dietetics in South Africa 16 Nov 2016
The worldwide attempt to reduce obesity has been given the 'thumbs up' by a few forward-thinking fiscal departments in various countries, including South Africa...
It seems that South Africa is not alone in debating a sugar tax. The US city of Philadelphia introduced a levy on sweetened beverages earlier this year.
South African schools are encouraging sugar usage among pupils by letting signs at entrances announce they are sponsored by Coca-Cola...
Shenaaz Jamal 25 Oct 2016
Two retailers delighted attendees at this year's Beyond Retail event by speaking of what may sound like futuristic plans but in reality is already on offer locally - the self-service checkout and the true power of private label products...
Leigh Andrews 18 Oct 2016
Taxing sugar could bring the government about R4bn in revenue, says the treasury's deputy director general, Ismail Momoniat...
Pontsho Pilane 6 Oct 2016
When it comes to the proposed SSB tax, researchers about misinformation campaigns that could be taking a page out of the tobacco lobby's playbook...
Ina Skosana 26 Sep 2016
The beverage industry's claims that a tax on sugary drinks will destroy tens of thousands of jobs in SA is unfounded, as consumers are likely to switch to alternative products, according to Trade and Industrial Strategies' analysis...
Tamar Kahn 30 Aug 2016
Implementing the sugar tax next year may be difficult as the supporting framework might not be ready...
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), the largest bottler of fizzy drinks on the continent, may backtrack on its commitment to invest R800m in enterprise development in SA if the Treasury imposes a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages...
Fifi Peters 18 Aug 2016
The sugar tax battle is hotting up with Coca-Cola, saying the levy on SSBs will threaten jobs...
The soft drink industry has weighed in on the debate around the proposed sugar tax and its efficacy in fighting obesity...
Following the successful introduction of the salt law, stakeholders hope for the same commitment from government on the proposed SSB policy...
Dr Sundeep Ruder 2 Aug 2016
Now that the Treasury has published for comment its policy paper on the tax of sugar-sweetened beverages, a debate about the sugar tax proposal can begin in earnest...
Hilary Joffe 19 Jul 2016
SA's new sugar tax could add 20% to the price of a Coca-Cola, but would exempt Liquifruit and other 100% fruit juices, along with unsweetened milk and bottled water...
Hilary Joffe 11 Jul 2016
Mary Poppins was wrong. A spoonful of sugar is more likely to land you in hospital, than help the medicine go down...
The Coca-Cola Company said Monday that it was forced to cut back production of its popular sodas in Venezuela due to the shortage of sugar in the politically riven country.
The tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, announced by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in his February budget speech, will come into effect on 1 April next year...
Virusha Subban and Yonatan Sher 21 Apr 2016
Having launched in South Africa just over a year ago, Vita Coco Coconut Water has experienced the highest first-year sales performance of any market worldwide, including those of the UK and the US, where the brand originated. Average sales per store have been almost 20% higher than those experienced in other Vita Coco markets during the first year...
Despite fears that local coffee prices will drastically increase due to a shortage of beans from Brazil, coupled with the entrance of Starbucks into the local market, prices will remain stable and steadily increase at realistic levels...
Despite the growing fear that local coffee prices will increase drastically because of a shortage of beans from Brazil, coupled with the entrance of Starbucks into the local market...
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest level of food insecurity in the world...
Jane Battersby 3 Mar 2016
The Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan delivered his annual budget speech last week and, whilst the South African economy is currently experiencing challenges, there is some good news...
Agbiz welcomes the announcement that measures are in progress to strengthen agriculture and agro-processing, although these agriculture measures appear to be...
WASHINGTON DC, US: US fast-food chain Burger King is cutting soft drinks from its children's meals amid mounting pressure to reduce the amount of sweet sodas children drink...