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AAP
AAP
Health
William Ton

Leaders urged to stomach junk food tax to save lives

Health experts say the federal government should consider a 20 per cent tax on unhealthy food items. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

More than 200,000 lives and billions of dollars in health costs could be saved if political leaders developed an appetite to tax unhealthy foods, according to fresh research.

The federal government is being called upon to consider a 20 per cent tax on unhealthy items, such as soft drinks, confectionery, biscuits, pastries, ice cream and processed meat, while redistributing that revenue to bring down the cost of healthy foods.

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