Poland weighs up ways to combat obesity

Poland's health ministry is looking at a series of "comprehensive actions" to tackle rising obesity in the country, including the use of pricing measures.

Poland’s health ministry is looking at a series of “comprehensive actions” to tackle rising obesity in the country, including the use of pricing measures.

Warsaw is aiming to reduce the availability of foods that are not recommended to be taken in excessive amounts, while increasing the availability of those that are recommended, a Ministry of Health spokesperson told just-food in a statement on 16 October.

A strategy imposed in 2016 by Poland’s council of ministers – the National Health Programme 2016-2020 – seeks to improve dietary practices, the state of nutrition and the level of physical activity of society, the statement added. Actions and strategies outlined in that document are performed in cooperation with both the Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as the chief sanitary inspector.

When asked by just-food to comment on speculation Poland was considering a tax on foods containing high levels of sugar, fat or salt, the spokesperson said today (18 October): “The Ministry of Health is not able to clearly declare on behalf of the government what will be decided in this area.”