SOUR plans to slap huge taxes on sugary and salty foods will send prices rocketing and cost every household an extra £172.
And despite hitting family budgets hard, critics say the number of calories saved per person would be equal to half a digestive biscuit.
Government Food Tsar Henry Dimbleby yesterday unveiled plans for the £6-a-kilo tax on salty treats and a £3-a-kilo sugary food levy.
It would send the cost of every day foods like crisps, crumpets, jam and sweets soaring.
The nanny-state scheme would cost shoppers £4.8billion a year, says the Taxpayers’ Alliance.
Mr Dimbleby, the multimillionaire founder of the Leon fast food chain, unveiled his 288-page report demanding a total change in what we eat in a bid to tackle obesity and climate change.
He insisted Brits must slash the amount of meat they consume by 30 per cent — and suggested families swap sausages for insects or artificial meat.
His report also called for a benefits boost so poorer families can afford to buy healthy food.
GPs should prescribe fruit and veg to obese people while free school meals should be extended to all kids in families on universal credit earning up to £20,000 a year — around 1.1 million extra children.
Mr Dimbleby said: “The way we produce food is doing terrible damage to the environment and to our bodies, and putting an intolerable strain on the NHS.
“We must now seize the moment to build a better food system for our children and grandchildren.”
John O’Connell, head of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “This is yet another case of middle-class meddling that will hit the poorest families hardest.”
Dr Eamonn Butler, director of think tank the Adam Smith Institute, said the Prime Minister must act against increasing the cost of food while “ruining its taste”.
He added: “At a time when many Brits are already worried about inflation, the last thing they need is Henry Dimbleby pinching more of their hard-earned money.”
He warned the tax bombshell could fuel shrinkflation, with companies reducing the size of crisp packets and chocolate bars to try to escape being taxed too much.
Tory MP Dehenna Davison slammed the proposals, saying: “We shouldn’t be taxing people for ordering a pizza on a Friday night rather than having a salad.”
Environment Secretary George Eustice gave the independent report a luke-warm response.
He said: “I would like to thank Henry Dimbleby and his team for their work.
“This Government will carefully consider its conclusions and respond with a White Paper within six months, setting out our priorities for the food system.”
