Brexit: Health advocates fear future transatlantic trade deal could undermine efforts

As the UK and US government officials prepare for new negotiations later this week, Sustain is raising concerns that post-Brexit trade deals with the US could result in the UK importing high fat and sugar foods from America – just as Britain is ramping up efforts to improve the nation’s diet and drive down obesity.

Sustain points out the US government’s “record of hostility” towards countries that want to set their domestic agenda on reducing sugar intake and particularly its push to keep the traffic light labeling on food voluntary.

The warnings come just weeks before the UK introduces its sugar tax on April 6 with two bands of products: A lower rate of 18 pence per liter for drinks with a total sugar content between 5-8g per 100ml and a higher rate of 24 pence per liter for drinks with total sugar more than 8g per 100ml. Drinks with a sugar content lower than 5g per 100ml will not be subject to the levy and a similar scheme is also coming into force in Ireland.

And just yesterday (March 19), the latest Public Health England (PHE) data was released which showed that UK children are consuming way too much sugar despite cutbacks over the last decade.

Children have cut back on sugary drinks by around one third over the past ten years, which shows that messages about consuming too much sugar are having some effect, but the latest PHE survey reveals youngsters are generally eating too much sugar and fat and too little fresh fruit and vegetables, while fiber intake is around one third lower than advisable.

Sustain – which advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals – has released new analysis ahead of UK international trade secretary Liam Fox traveling to the US for trade talks that will shape any new deals between the two countries when the UK leaves the European Union next March.

The analysis shows much higher rates of diet-related illnesses in the US and Sustain also claims to have found evidence of US aggression in trade talks towards countries that try to set their own regulations to reduce sugar consumption, limit junk food advertising or introduce additional food labeling measures.

“The US record on trade is clear – they export corn syrup, processed junk food and sugar. And along with it obesity, diabetes and diet-related disease,” says Kath Dalmeny, CEO of Sustain.

“We've been told that Number 10 [the Prime Minister's office] is preparing to update its obesity strategy. Part of that must be to get us all eating more healthily. But a sugary, junk-filled trade deal will drive a coach and horses through it all.”

“We mustn't sell off our children’s health in exchange for a trade deal with the US. Trade deals must put public health first. We want to see clear mandates with health priorities set for UK trade negotiators in advance of any talks with the US.”

Sustain has found a study from the Harvard School of Public Health showing spikes in obesity in countries like India and China thanks to trade liberalization, it claims. Other studies show obesity rates increased in both Mexico and Canada after the adoption of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993.

The alliance also points to figures that show obesity rates in the US of over 20 percent versus 12 percent in the UK. Self-reported rates of being overweight (including obesity) in US teenagers is more than double (31 percent) that of the UK (14 percent) and that around 125,000 under 18s in the US are suffering from type 2 diabetes, versus approximately 2,000 in the UK.

And Sustain’s concerns are backed up by the UK’s Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) which is also urging the British government to resist any pressure from the US which will damage or reverse the efforts being made to improve Britain’s health and diets.

“With the next stage of the Government’s Obesity Plan due to be published this year, we are pressing them to include restrictions on junk food advertising prior to the 9pm watershed, mandatory traffic light labeling including on out of home products and restrictions on fast food outlets near schools,” said Prof. Russell Viner, the RCPCH president.

“We’re concerned by the evidence of US hostility in trade talks towards countries that want to set their domestic agenda on reducing sugar intake, particularly the push [from the US] to keep traffic light labeling voluntary. We can’t allow trade talks to undermine efforts to tackle childhood obesity.”

“Children’s health outcomes are much worse in the US than in many other comparable countries, and we don’t want to import these along with the sugar.”

In the past, President Trump has accused Europe of having very protectionist policies when it comes to food imports and sees Brexit as an opportunity for US farmers to export more products to Britain.

At the beginning of this year, Ted McKinney, an undersecretary for trade at the US Department for Agriculture, urged Britain to cut strict rules after Brexit in a bid to boost trade, which reignited a row over chlorine-washed chicken from America.

McKinney remarked about how tough it is to do business with Britain, and currently Europe, because of tough safety rules. He urged that once the UK leaves the EU, the UK government could set its food safety standards, which could pave the way for easier trade between the US and UK.