Table 2.
Discursive Industry Strategies Identified in the South African SSB Tax Adoption Process
Domain | Practice | • Specific Mechanism Observed in Public Submissions |
The economy | Stress the number of jobs supported and the money generated for the economy | • Stress job creation and economic contribution |
Expected food industry costs | Policy will lead to reduced sales/jobs | • Stress job creation and economic contribution |
Cost of compliance will be high | • Highlight the administrative burden associated with regulation | |
Frame the debate on diet- and public health-related issues | Stress the good traits of the food industry |
• Emphasize existing actions combatting obesity • Reference philanthropic activities seeking to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and vulnerable communities |
Shift the blame away from the food industry and its products, e.g. focus on individual responsibility, role of parents, physical inactivity | • Emphasising that obesity is a complex problem that requires different interventions | |
Promote industry ´s preferred solutions: education, balanced diets, information, public private initiatives, self -regulation (reformulation) |
• Refer to existing activities such as public-private partnerships to address obesity • Undertake voluntary actions to reduce obesity |
Source: Adapted from [41]