Nutrition, food policies

2021

Safura Abdool Karim & Petronell Kruger (2021) Unsavoury: How effective are class actions in the protection and vindication of the right to access to food in South Africa, South African Journal on Human Rights, DOI: 10.1080/02587203.2021.2000886 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02587203.2021.2000886
Petronell Kruger, Safura Abdool Karim, Aviva Tugendhaft & Susan Goldstein (2021) An Analysis of the Adoption and Implementation of A Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax in South Africa: A Multiple Streams Approach, Health Systems & Reform, 7:1, DOI: 10.1080/23288604.2021.1969721
Stacey N, Edoka I, Hofman K, Swart EC, Popkin B, Ng SW. Changes in beverage purchases following the announcement and implementation of South Africa's Health Promotion Levy: an observational study. The Lancet Planetary Health 2021; 5(4): e200-e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30304-1
Hofman, KJ, Stacey, N, Swart, EC, Popkin, BM, Ng, SW. South Africa's Health Promotion Levy: Excise tax findings and equity potential. Obesity Reviews. 2021; 1– 7. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13301
Gemma Ahaibwe, Safura Abdool Karim, Anne-Marie Thow, Agnes Erzse & Karen Hofman(2021) Barriers to, and facilitators of, the adoption of a sugar sweetened beverage tax to prevent non-communicable diseases in Uganda: a policy landscape analysis, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2021.1892307
Anne-Marie Thow, Agnes Erzse, Gershim Asiki, Charles Mulindabigwi Ruhara, Gemma Ahaibwe, Twalib Ngoma, Hans Justus Amukugo, Milka N. Wanjohi, Mulenga M. Mukanu, Lebogang Gaogane, Safura Abdool Karim & Karen Hofman(2021) Study design: policy landscape analysis for sugar-sweetened beverage taxation in seven sub-Saharan African countries, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2020.1856469
Milkah N Wanjohi, Ann Marie Thow, Safura Abdool Karim, Gershim Asiki, Agnes Erzse, Shukri F Mohamed, Hermann Pythagore Pierre Donfouet, Pamela A Juma & Karen J Hofman(2021) Nutrition-related non-communicable disease and sugar-sweetened beverage policies: a landscape analysis in Kenya, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2021.1902659
Agnes Erzse, Safura Abdool Karim, Anne Marie Thow, Gemma Ahaibwe, Hans Justus Amukugo, Gershim Asiki, Lebogang Gaogane, Mulenga M. Mukanu, Twalib Ngoma, Charles Mulindabigwi Ruhara, Milkah N Wanjohi & Karen Hofman (2021) The data availability landscape in seven sub-Saharan African countries and its role in strengthening sugar-sweetened beverage taxation, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2020.1871189
Charles Mulindabigwi Ruhara, Safura Abdool Karim, Agnes Erzse, Anne-Marie Thow, Sylvere Ntirampeba & Karen J Hofman(2021) Strengthening prevention of nutrition-related non-communicable diseases through sugar-sweetened beverages tax in Rwanda: a policy landscape analysis, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2021.1883911
Safura Abdool Karim, Agnes Erzse, Anne-Marie Thow, Hans Justus Amukugo, Charles Ruhara, Gemma Ahaibwe, Gershim Asiki, Mulenga M. Mukanu, Twalib Ngoma, Milka Wanjohi, Abel Karera & Karen Hofman(2021) The legal feasibility of adopting a sugar-sweetened beverage tax in seven sub-Saharan African countries, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2021.1884358
Hans Justus Amukugo, Safura Abdool Karim, Anne Marie Thow, Agnes Erzse, Petronell Kruger, Abel Karera & Karen Hofman(2021) Barriers to, and facilitators of, the adoption of a sugar sweetened beverage tax to prevent non-communicable diseases in Namibia: a policy landscape analysis, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2021.1903213
Stacey N, Edoka I, Hofman K, Swart EC, Popkin B, Ng SW. Changes in beverage purchases following the announcement and implementation of South Africa's Health Promotion Levy: an observational study. The Lancet Planetary Health 2021; 5(4): e200-e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30304-1
Erzse, A, Goldstein, S, Tugendhaft, A, et al. The roles of men and women in maternal and child nutrition in urban South Africa: A qualitative secondary analysis. Matern Child Nutr. 2021;e13161. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13161
Popkin Barry M., S. B., Camila Corvalan, Karen J Hofman, Carlos Monteiro, Shu Wen Ng, Elizabeth C. Swart, and Lindsey Smith Taillie, (2021 (in press)). "Toward unified and impactful policies for reducing ultraprocessed food consumption and promoting healthier eating globally." Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology 9.
Thow A-M, Erzse A, Asiki G, et al. Study design: policy landscape analysis for sugar-sweetened beverage taxation in seven sub-Saharan African countries. Global Health Action 2021; 14(1): 1856469.

2020

Public health response to ultra-processed food and drinks. Jean Adams, Karen Hofman, Jean-Claude Moubarac, Anne Marie Thow. BMJ June 2020
‘I’d say I’m fat, I’m not obese’: obesity normalisation in urban-poor South Africa. Edna N Bosire, Emmanuel Cohen, Agnes Erzse, Susan J Goldstein, Karen J Hofman, Shane A Norris. Public Health Nutrition June 2020
The potential health and revenue effects of a tax on sugar sweetened beverages in Zambia. Peter Hangoma, Maio Bulawayo, Mwimba Chewe, Nicholas Stacey, Laura Downey, Kalipso Chalkidou, Karen Hofman, Mpuma Kamanga, Anita Kaluba, Gavin Surgey. BMJ Global Health April 2020
The potential global gains in health and revenue from increased taxation of tobacco, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages: a modelling analysis. Tania Banerjee, Shreena Malaviya, Yira Natalia Alfonso, Patrick Wedlock, George Pariyo, Summan, A., Stacey, N., Birckmayer, J., Blecher, E., Chaloupa, F.J., Laxminarayan, R. BMJ Global Health March 2020
Attitudes and perceptions among urban South Africans towards sugar-sweetened beverages and taxation. Edna N Bosire, Nicholas Stacey, Gudani Mukoma, Aviva Tugendhaft, Karen Hofman, Shane A Norris. Public Health Nutrition February 2020

2019

Sugar-based beverage taxes and beverage prices: Evidence from South Africa's Health Promotion Levy. Nicholas Stacey, Caroline Mudara, Shu Wen Ng, Corne van Walbeek, Karen Hofman, Ijeoma Edoka. Social Science & Medicine October 2019
Evidence for high sugar content of baby foods in South Africa. NC Marais, NJ Christofides, A Erzse, KJ Hofman. South African Medical Journal April 2019

2018

Simulating the impact of excise taxation for disease prevention in low income and middle-income countries: an application to South Africa. Nicholas Stacey, Amit Summan, Aviva Tugendhaft, Ramanan Laxminarayan, Karen Hofman. BMJ Global Health January 2018
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes: Industry Response and Tactics. Matthew Du, Aviva Tugendhaft, Agnes Erzse, Karen J Hofman. Yale Journal Of Biology And Medicine June 2018
Assessment of food environments in obesity reduction: a tool for public health action. Noluthanda Ndlovu, Candy Day, Benn Sartorius, Jens Aagaard-Hansen, Karen Hofman. South African Health Review December 2018
Capitalising on consumers' sweet spot has dangerous implications. Wits University. Medical Xpress January 2018
Limitations of the Sugar Tax. Thomas Johnson. Politicsweb January 2018

2017

The history of the South African Sugar Industry illuminates deeply rooted obstacles for sugar reduction anti-obesity interventions. Alex Myers, David Fig, Aviva Tugendhaft, Jonathan E Meyers, Karen Hofman. African Studies 2017
Sugary beverage taxation in South Africa: Household expenditure, demand system elasticities, and policy implications. Nicholas Stacey, Aviva Tugendhaft, Karen Hofman. Preventive Medicine December 2017
Sugary drinks tax passedEyewitness News December 2017
How the sugar tax will work. Katharine Child. Times LIVE December 2017
Energy drink consumption and marketing in South Africa. Nicholas Stacey, Corne van Walbeek, Mashekwa Maboshe, Aviva Tugendhaft, Karen Hofman. Preventive Medicine
December 2017
The impact of sociodemography, diet, and body size on serum retinol in women 16–35 years of age: SANHANES-1. Whadi-ah Parker, Zandile J Mchiza, Ronel Sewpaul, Nophiwe Job, Lumbwe Chola, Moses Sithole, Demetre Labadarios. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences November 2017
SA moves one step closer to a sugar tax, and a healthier lifestyle. The Conversation. November 2017
Smaller soft drink sizes leave bitter taste of shrinkflation Katharine Child. SowetanLIVE October 2017
Things go smaller with Coca-Cola. FMCG News October 2017
Excess fat causing multiple amputations. IOL October 2017
Energy drinks on the rise in SA. Nivashni Nair. Times-LIVE September 2017
Sugar tax, a small price to pay for saving lives. Independent Online May 2017
Sugar tax only for the sweetest. Lynley Donnelly.Mail & Guardian February 2017
Sugar Tax: A bitter debate. Fin 24. February 2017
Sugar tax debate reaches parliament. Kerry Cullinan. Health-e News February 2017
Protagonists all in a fizz over sugar-sweetened drinks tax. Liesl Peyper. Biznews February 2017
Sugar and health in South Africa: Potential challenges to leveraging policy change. Alex Myers, David Fig, Aviva Tugendhaft, Jessie Mandle, Jonathan Myers, Karen Hofman Global Public Health, January 2017
Fiscal policies for population health in South Africa. PRICELESS SA. January 2017
Sugary drinks tax reaches Parliament. Kerry Cullinan. Daily Maverick January 2017
As the price of sugar goes up, consumption will go down. Qama Qukula. 702 January 2017
Bitter exchanges sour sweet talk. Lynley Donnelly. Mail and Guardian January 2017

2016

Regulate or motivate? A salt reduction strategy for processed food in South Africa. Jennifer Lindsey-Renton, Karen Hofman, Courtney Sprague. 2016
The proposed introduction of tax on sugar-sweetened beverages is hopefully going to stop the poor from drinking more sugary drinks which are harmful to their health. Sunday Times 5 October 2016
How much sugar do we drink in South Africa? Here are the facts. BusinessTech September 2016
Cost of inaction on sugar-sweetened beverage consumption: implications for obesity in South Africa. Aviva Tugendhaft, Mercy Manyema, Lennert J Veerman, Lumbwe Chola, Demetre Labadarios, Karen J Hofman. Public Health Nutrition, September 2016
What the InBev merger means for health in Africa. Johanna Hanefeld, Benjamin Hawkins, Cecile Knai, Karen Hofman, Mark Petticrew. BMJ Global Health August 2016
South Africans have a sweet tooth so shouldn’t say no to a sugar tax. Karen Hofman, Aviva Tugendhaft. The Conversation AfricaAugust 2016
Economists say sugar taxes likely to be effective. Karen Hofman, Aviva Tugendhaft. Medical Xpress August 2016
Modelling the potential impact of a sugar-sweetened beverage tax on stroke mortality, costs and health-adjusted life years in South Africa. Mercy Manyema, Lennert J Veerman, Aviva Tugendhaft, Demetre Labadarios, Karen J Hofman. BMC Public Health May 2016
A moment on the lips, a long term health risk. Northcliff Melville Times 21 May 2016
Finance Minister proposes "sugar tax" to halt obesity. Greytown Gazette 4 May 2016
Sweet and sour of dreaded sugar tax. Katharine Child. TimesLIVE 21 April 2016
Obesity a new threat to population. Independent 30 April 2016
26 public health bodies sweet on the new sugar tax. The Star 22 April 2016
Sugar tax may sweeten way to cut the fat. Daily Dispatch 22 April 2016
Sugar tax has big benefits. The New Age 22 April 2016
New sugar tax a sweet solution. Citizen 21 April 2016 [KM1]
Bring on sugar tax say SA's top health experts. Health24 21 Apr 2016
South Africa: Sugar tax confirmed for 2017. Aviva Tugendhaft. Celebrating Progress Africa 29 February 2016
Sugar tax gets sweet support in News24 poll. Health24 26 February 2016
Sugar tax confirmed for South Africa in 2017. BusinessTech 24 February 2016
Sugar Tax: A “great move by Treasury”. Xolani Gwala. 702 24 February 2016
Tax on soft drinks could benefit obese SA. Lynley Donnelly. Mail & Guardian 4 February 2016
Is a sugar tax really on the cards for SA?Health24 21 January 2016

2015

Obesity: why South Africans need to can soft drinks. Aviva Tugendhaft, Karen Hofman. The Conversation 24 November 2015.
Obesogenic Environments: Access to and Advertising of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Soweto, South Africa, 2013. Gillian Moodley, Nicola Christofides, Shane A Norris, Thomas Achia, Karen J Hofman. Preventing Chronic Disease October 2015
Why greater transparency on food packaging should get the green light.
Aviva Tugendhaft, Karen Hofman. The Conversation, 31 August 2015
Determinants of Obesity and Associated Population Attributability, South Africa: Empirical Evidence from a National Panel Survey, 2008-2012. Benn Sartorius, Lennert J Veerman, Mercy Manyema, Lumbwe Chola, Karen Hofman. PLoS One June 2015
Traffic light labels will help in right Food choices. Karen Hofman, Jessie Mandle and Aviva Tugendhaft. Business Day 26 February 2015
Nutrition labelling: a review of research on consumer and industry response in the global South. Jessie Mandel, Aviva Tugendhaft, Julia Michalow, Karen Hofman. Global Health Action, January 2015
Soft drinks and juices lead the way to obesity in SA. BusinessTech-19 Dec 2015

2014

Sweet drinks to dissolve like a lump of sugar Wits Leader 2014
The cost of obesity. Andile Makholwa Financial Mail December 2014
Get Coked on juice. Katharine Child. Times Live October 2014
Empowering healthy food and beverage choices in the workplace. A Tugendhaft, KJ Hofman. Occupational Health Southern Africa September 2014
The Potential Impact of a 20% Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages on Obesity in South African Adults: A Mathematical Model. Mercy Manyema, Lennert J Veerman, Lumbwe Chola, Aviva Tugendhaft, Benn Sartorius, Demetre Labadarios, Karen J Hofman. PLoS One August 2014
Blowing Smoke, Yussuf Saloojee. Business Day August 2014
SA’s weight war: Sugar gets a kick in the cans. Mail and Guardian August 2014
Sugar tax mooted to save lives and money. Food Business Africa August 2014
MEC Mahlangu welcomes 'sugar tax' recommendation. SA Government Online August 2014
SA Tops in Sub-Saharan Africa with Fatties. Sowetan August 2014
Sugar tax on drinks may reduce obesity. Wits University August 2014
SA is failing to escape global trend to obesity. BD Live May 2014
Benefits of salt reduction in South African foodNutrition Society May 2014
Government considers ‘sugar tax’ for South Africa. Daily Dispatch February 2014
State ponders 'sugar tax' to fight cancer. BD Live February 2014
SA mulls soft drink tax in war on sugar. Daily Dispatch January 2014
Bitter truth about sugar – it makes our kids fat. Saturday Star January 2014
Wits researchers take on sugar to fight SA obesity. Saturday Weekend Argus January 2014
Soft drinks tax could out sugar intake. Herald January 2014
Soft drink tax takes aim at the sweet life. The Times January 2014

2013

Successful sodium regulation in South Africa. Karen J Hofman, Richard Lee. World Health Organisation intersectoral case study 2013
Evidence that a tax on sugar sweetened beverages reduces the obesity rate: a meta-analysis. Maria A Cabrera Escobar, J Lennert Veerman, Melanie Y Bertram, Stpehen M Tollman, Karen J Hofman. BMC Public Health November 2013
Population health in South Africa: a view from the salt mines. Karen J Hofman, Stpehen M Tolman. The Lancet Global Health August 2013
Why you can’t resist a crisp. Star April 2013
State extends deadline for salt content compliance. Tamar Kahn. Business Day March 2013
Motsoaledi defends strict regulations. Khulekani Magubane. Business Day March 2013
Obesity in SA tips the scales. Katharine Child. Times Live February 2013

2012

Reducing the sodium content of high-salt foods: Effect on cardiovascular disease in South Africa. Melanie Y Bertram, Krisela Steyn, Edelweiss Wentzel-Viljoen, Stephen Tollman, Karen J Hofman. South African Medical Journal September 2012
Health chiefs declare war to take salt away. Independent August 2012
Demanding the best for all South Africans. K Hofman, K Kahn. PedMed April/May 2012
Cutting salt content in bread will raise price, bakers say. Business Day July 2012
Salt – it stands for Simply Add (a) Little Touch. Saturday Star July 2012
Minder sout in kos sal beroertes voorkom, sê navorsers. Die Burger July 2012
SA Food’s salt content to be regulated. Sipokazi Fokazi. IOL July 2012
Regulating salt content ‘will increase price of bread’. Tamar Kahn. Business Day July 2012
Get healthy – or else. Katherine Child. The Times July 2012
Wits team helps curb SA’s salt intake. Wits University July 2012
State wants South Africans to halve salt intake, but allows more time. Tamar Kahn. Business Day July 2012
Reducing salt content in food will help save lives. Cape Argus August 2012

2011

Law to cut salt content in South African’s diet. Tamar Kahn. Business Day June 2011