October 08, 2015
Sweet hit comes at high cost
A Maori health campaigner says a sugary drink free New Zealand by 2025 is possible if enough people get behind the idea.
Leonie Matoe from Toi Tangata was part of this week's FIZZ Symposium in South Auckland which brought together health researchers, public health specialists and beverage industry representatives.
She says it was good to hear companies such as Frucor on how they are trying to provide lower sugar alternatives, with one in three soft drinks sold now being zero sugar or low calorie.
Some marae and Pacific Island churches are also refusing to serve sugary drinks.
Ms Matoe says the drinks may be cheap and easily available, but the cost is high for Maori and Pasifika communities in obesity, diabetes, gout and dental disease.
" I almost cried because it was something like 50 tamariki Maori every year are having their teeth pulled and having to go under anesthetic so this is a major operation that cost the DHB's a whole lot but the cost to whanau as well" she says.
Leonie Matoe believes a tax on sugary drinks would help to suppress demand.
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