Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Is it time to treat sugar like smoking?
Plain tobacco packaging requires the removal
of all branding, such as colors, imagery, logos, and trademarks, and permits manufacturers
to print only the brand name in a regulated size, font, and place on the pack. The
rest of the package’s area must be printed with, often severely discouraging health
warning to deter smoking. In 2012, Australia became the first country to
introduce plain packaging. In the UK, plain packaging became a requirement for all cigarettes
sold after May 2017. In Asia, Thailand is becoming the first country to mandate
plain packaging starting from September this year.
There is a more serious health problem in the
UK. Obesity is now one of the leading preventable cause of death. More than
one-third of men and over 8 in 10 women are thought to be overweight or obese,
and by next year, the ratio is predicted to reach 90%. This serious weight
problem has been increasing the number of deaths by diabetes, heart diseases,
and cancers as well as medical costs. And children are no exception. They are
constantly exposed to attractive sweets and sugary drinks, which often contains
multiple times of recommended daily sugar intake per serving.
In order to make people think twice before opening
the attractive package of a such-rich snack or twisting the cap of a sugary
drink, a new move to introduce “discouraging packaging” is on the rise. Imagine
a chocolate or candy bar wrapped in a plain package full of health warning with
a plain brand name. For producers, it would be awfully difficult to market or
promote new products that aren’t familiar to consumers. It would also be
difficult for consumers to distinguish Coke from Pepsi.
Though it may sound too radical when the smoking
ban in public places or plain tobacco packaging was first discussed, neither of
which had been expected to pass Parliament.
Enjoy reading the article and think if the
idea is a good step towards a sugar-free diet.
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