Dr James Muecke believes the approach used to reduce smoking needs to be adopted for sugar
Our new Australian of the Year, Dr James Muecke, plans to use that platform to warn people of the dangers of excessive sugar.
SA News
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A sugar tax, traffic light labelling on confectionery products and an advertising campaign about the dangers of excessive sugar consumption are at the forefront of Australian of the Year Dr James Muecke’s fight against type 2 diabetes.
Health Minister Stephen Wade has backed Dr Muecke’s fight against the sugar epidemic, and agreed to team up with the advocate to boost awareness in South Australia.
The Adelaide eye surgeon received the honour on Saturday for his work combating blindness across the globe, with type 2 diabetes the leading cause in adults.
“It’s something that is killing us,” Dr Muecke said.
“I want people to be aware that it’s a potentially dangerous substance if consumed excessively and incessantly.”
Dr Muecke believes the approach used to reduce smoking needs to be adopted for sugar, which is also a highly addictive substance.
“Smoking wasn’t a single strategy, it wasn’t only banning advertising, or taxing the product,” he said. “There has to be a multiple strategy … industry involvement and consultation.”
He has proposed changes including banning confectionery items from cash registers, new traffic light labels that emphasise that “red is high sugar danger, don’t buy”, taxing high sugar products, and replacing junk food advertising during children’s television programs with advertisements raising awareness about the dangers of sugar. He also wants to ensure people with type two diabetes get their eyes checked.
“Australia has one of the best health systems in the world but type two diabetes and sugar is definitely something we can do better on,” he said. Mr Wade met Dr Muecke this month and said he shares “his passion for tackling diabetes to prevent blindness”.
“Sugar and its contribution to obesity are key risks for diabetes and a whole range of conditions,” Mr Wade said.
“We agreed to work together to raise community awareness and action, particularly in relation to sugar.”
Dr Muecke also plans to meet federal Health Minister Greg Hunt.
Australian Beverages Council chief executive Geoff Parker said a multi-pronged approach was needed to tackle diet-related diseases. But “singling out sugar in soft drinks” through a sugar tax would not be supported by industry.
“We would be supportive of creating awareness and providing more education for people, again, around that concept of the total diet,” he said.
“We wouldn’t be supportive of focusing in on sugar.”
The industry says it is on track to this year meet a voluntary 10 per cent reduction in the amount of sugar in drinks.
