Greens suggest tax on soft drinks to fight fat

A tax on soft drinks to pay for a $20 million nutrition fund is part of the Greens' plan to stem the obesity epidemic.

The party wants to put a 1 per cent levy on fizzy drinks, which, alongside Government funding, will pay for the fund aimed at promoting healthy nutrition for children.

The party also wants to develop a "traffic light" food-labelling system to help children identify food values - green for healthy, orange for "don't eat too much" and red for foods high in sugar and fat.

Health spokeswoman Sue Kedgley said the Greens would extend the Government's fruit in schools programme - 20,000 children at primary and intermediate schools, mostly in poorer areas, now get free fruit - to include all primary and preschools.

"Poor diet is the biggest cause of preventable death in this country."

Coca-Cola spokeswoman Aimee Driscoll said the levy on soft drinks was unfair and just an extra tax on consumers.

Health Minister Annette King, through a spokesman, questioned why only soft drinks were being targeted, instead of also including such products as lollies.

Act health spokeswoman Heather Roy said the Green's plan was crazy.

"The fact is that a sedentary lifestyle is the biggest contributor to child obesity."