By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A CABINET minister yesterday pledged to "stop poisoning our people" by totally changing the Government's 'breadbasket' food line-up in time for the 2018-2019 Budget year.
Dr Duane Sands, minister of health, told Tribune Business that the Minnis administration planned to align tax and economic policies with the Bahamas' dietary health needs for the first time since the 1970s.
He revealed that the current 'breadbasket' contents will "probably not exist for too much longer", as the Government plans to switch-out many existing foods in favour of products that will encourage healthy eating.
Dr Sands said the concept of "giving people a bellyful" through imposing price controls on basic food 'staples' had contributed directly to the Bahamas' health crisis, particularly its struggles with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
By keeping prices on products such as corn beef and sugar artificially low through such regulation, the Minister argued that government policy had effectively encouraged Bahamians to "commit a form of dietary suicide and homicide".
He disclosed that "a fairly comprehensive" consultation process, involving nutritionists, doctors and the food retail/wholesale industry, has been ongoing in a bid to develop a new 'breadbasket' food list that could be approved by Cabinet in time for the new fiscal year. "We have been engaged in a fairly comprehensive process to look at the items in the 'breadbasket'," Dr Sands told Tribune Business. "The 'breadbasket' was created in the 1970s. The concept then was 'give people a bellyful', but those things on the 'breadbasket' have absolutely nothing to do with healthy eating.
"Some of the biggest culprits with respect to hypertension, diabetes and ill-health are in that 'breadbasket'. The fact is we have made it easier to get sick through the things on that breadbasket [list], and suffer the worst healthcare indicators in the region and, sometimes, the world."
Dr Sands' revelations place the Prime Minister's renewed pledge to remove Value-Added Tax (VAT) from 'breadbasket' items in a slightly different context, since this 'tax break' will seemingly now combine with price controls to incentivise improved dietary health and eating habits by reducing the cost of such foods.
"If we want to feed the narrative that we remove VAT from the existing 'breadbasket', then unwittingly what we could do is worsen the indicators and demographics that we see in the Bahamas," the Minister of Health told Tribune Business.
"The idea is that if we say we want to make easier for families to eat healthy, maybe we ought to make sure what is in the breadbasket is healthy, and what is in the breadbasket currently is not healthy. I say that without fear of contradiction.
"Some of the items in the 'breadbasket' add significantly to the levels of diabetes, hypertension and obesity we have in the Bahamas."
The Government's plans were yesterday given full backing by Super Value's owner, Rupert Roberts, who in referring to Dr Hubert Minnis's VAT elimination plan, said: "The breadbasket items of today are not going to be breadbasket items then.
"We support this programme. For 47 years previous governments have been promoting poison, and the Government is now going to be promoting health. This whole thing is going right, turning it upside down and going the way it should have been going for 50 years."
Mr Roberts pointed to Super Value's price-controlled costs for corn beef and sugar, which stand at $1.98 and $1.99, respectively. He added that both were sold at much higher prices at Wal-Mart in the US, with the former, in particular, costing consumers around $5.
These were among the current 'breadbasket' foods identified by Dr Sands as being "in the crosshairs" for removal. "Let's look at something as simple as sugar," he told Tribune Business. "Sugar shouldn't be given a free pass, and we should not be subsidising poison for our people. It is one the things recommended to be taken off the breadbasket.
"The purpose is not only a bellyful but a healthy breadbasket, so to speak," the Minister added. "It is quite possible that bread should not be on the list, but that's a different decision - certainly not bread with bleached flour.
"When we complete this process Mr Roberts' comments will come to life. What exists now [on the breadbasket] list will probably not exist too much longer. Then we need some other approaches to find solutions to the problem.
"High fructose corn syrup should not be so cheap that it's easy to kill yourself with it. Bahamians are committing a form of dietary suicide and homicide with their incredible proclivity for sugar, grease, fat and other carbohydrates."
Dr Sands said consultation with private sector and medical industry stakeholders over the proposed 'breadbasket' item reforms had been ongoing for "several months".
"We have engaged a number of stakeholders in order to get their input for the proposed amendments to the 'breadbasket'," he added. "The next step is we will convene a meeting with price control and look at the draft recommendations, and then finalise the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet for ratification of a new breadbasket list....
"We believe that while we haven't reached every single person, we have had broad consultation and plan to continue that process prior to making final recommendations that have to be vetted, considered and approved. Then we will approach the public and say: 'This is what the breadbasket will look like moving forward'.
"It will be good if we can complete this process in time to incorporate the changes for the 2018-2019 Budget." This timeline aligns with the one outlined by the Prime Minister for the removal of VAT from the 'breadbasket' list.
Dr Sands, meanwhile, said the 'breadbasket' changes would not be made "in isolation" of the economic impact, hence the prolonged consultation with the Bahamian food retail and wholesale industry.
Pointing to what could have become one unintended consequence, the Minister said the Government had initially looked to introduce fresh fruit into the 'breadbasket' list, only to discover that this would impose a significant stocking and supply cost on the private sector.
"What we don't want to do is create a breadbasket of items that will not be stocked because it is economically non-viable for merchants to do so," Dr Sands told Tribune Business.
"We have to look at what we intend to do, and the unintended consequences of any recommendations and decisions... We want to be mindful of the impact of every single proposed change on the economy. Each decision that is made changes the dynamic in terms of what it costs to stock and sell rice, what it costs to stock and sell corn beef."
He added: "We want to listen to the community and consult with industry. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. If you take something like chicken; chicken's a staple in the Bahamas.
"If we apply price controls to chicken the inadvertent impact is we could make fast food even cheaper. While the intention was to get people to eat healthy, you've just made it less expensive for people to eat unhealthy food. We have to look at what we intend to do and the unintended consequences of any recommendations and decisions."
The Prime Minister's plan to exempt 'breadbasket' items from VAT, whether it is the current or proposed food items, creates several consequences by itself (see other article on Page 1B).
And many in the private sector would argue that price controls should be eliminated completely, given that they amount to over-regulation that distorts market forces and force retailers to increase the cost of non-controlled items to compensate for the losses on these products.
The proposed 'breadbasket' overhaul will also force Bahamian consumers to change long-established shopping habits and buying patterns, thereby creating something of a 'cultural' shock.
The move is also likely to spark charges that the Government is disenfranchising lower income and middle class Bahamians by removing price controls from long-established 'breadbasket' staples, further increasing their living costs and reducing spending power.
Dr Sands acknowledged that push back is anticipate and, taking corn beef as an example, said: "It doesn't mean it won't be available, but the recommendations ought to be that it doesn't enjoy the status it currently enjoys.
"We don't for one minute believe that any proposed changes will be without controversy. We're prepared to educate the public on the rationale for the proposed changes, and expect there will be some opposition even if well-intentioned.
"Look at the experience in New York with the moratorium on sugary drinks. People will defend their right to kill themselves. I know that sounds terrible, but that's what it is."
Comments
Economist 6 years, 10 months ago
Finally, a Government who wants to really help make the life of Bahamians better.
HarryWyckoff 6 years, 10 months ago
Agreed. This should have been done by the two previous governments - loooooong overdue.
No doubt it will have the un/under-educated up in arms, but it's so needed!
realitycheck242 6 years, 10 months ago
While the government efforts for a new bread basket list is exactly what is needed.The reality of the situation is that we have become a fast pace, fast food society. A large percentage of Bahamain's rely on fast food sometimes three or more times a day. Only education about healthy eating can change that, but as long as fast foods are around people will spend less time in the kitchen preparing healthy foods. Something should be done to test the contents of fast foods in this country and their health effects ! The result would be shocking !
birdiestrachan 6 years, 10 months ago
The PM Promised to remove VAT from break basket items, Now they will change what are bread basket items. confusing the people that is what it is about.
bogart 6 years, 10 months ago
EXCELLENT Regretanly all the cheap foods happennto be da affordable items. NOW we will all be waiting as to how the NIB managed to invest in a Liquor company, Commonwealth Brewery, is there a member gets to sit on the Boatd of Directors?.....just like investments in the Bank of the Bahamas. even causing NIB to lose money from drop in share prices from 5+ to less than a dollar now...who is responsible for beong employed to do dis?....peoples money being put in dese tings an no one accountanle..not too healthy Just google nib bahamas and pull up lasr teport 2016?and go through it.
hrysippus 6 years, 10 months ago
Having studied nutrition for over 30 years and for much of that time being involved in the food distribution network, I consider more qualified than almost any other Bahamian. Those who know me also know that I have been lobbying for this change for the past decade. Unfortunately the government will not seek my advice but will probably ask some medical doctor. Medical doctors are taught how to prescribe drugs and know as much about nutrition as my potcake, Medical doctors also tend towards arrogance so their ignorance will not stop them making recommendations. This is a great concept and much needed, I just hope it works out well. An 800 percent duty on sugar, sodas and candy would improve the national health of the nation no end.
ohdrap4 6 years, 10 months ago
i could agree with the candy and soda.
but pure sugar should not be taxed to that extent. you need sugar to make bread, and it is better than fructose and hfcs. no ne sits down and eat pur3e sugar. teh real problem is ready made things with sugar and hfcs.
same with flour and rice. whole wheat bread causes higher sugar spikes than white bread.
butter is healthier than margarine.
to buy and consume cheddar cheese is different from buying the boxed macaroni and cheese.
whatever this move is, it will increase the price of consumer foods.
sometimes a mad has to live on oats and condensed milk alone.
it bothers me that this new list is being kept hidden from the public.
John 6 years, 10 months ago
Just ride around the islands. The mango trees are in full blossom and they are one of the few nnaturally grown things young people still eat. ju ju trees are loaded and you see older folk but very few children bothering with them. The generation has been programmed to processed and fat foods so apart from reducing bed basket prices and replacing some for more healthier items, there will also have to be some relearning. Before the fast foods school children could only eat what grew in their neighborhoods between meals.
OldFort2012 6 years, 10 months ago
We have an inexhaustible supply of the healthiest food there is: fish.
But no, we would rather eat shit produced by our American cousins.
Stick a 1000% duty on all those burgers and other crap the Yanks send over here. Or better still, charge every outlet $10m/year to even open their doors.
Once we remove the poison sold by the Americans, we can go back to eating healthy fish.
Dawes 6 years, 10 months ago
I would have to disagree on the inexhaustible supply. As someone who has speared, fished and conched for 40 years there are definitely not as much as there used to be. If the population of Nassau only ate Fish there would be no fish for miles around.
DDK 6 years, 10 months ago
All the more reason to clamp down on poaching and fishing out of season.
John 6 years, 10 months ago
The average Bahamian family cannot afford fish on a regular basis. It cost about $30 to buy just the fish for a family of five. And that is just the fish. And in the restaurant boil and stew fish is $15. So is stew conch. But it is good to switch from chicken and pork especially fast food once or twice a week. And rather than adjusting only imported items, government should set up distribution centers to sell BAMSI products. Then ensure that all persons receiving food assistance from Social Services get a package of locally grown produce and locally caught fish each week. There are 13,000 such families. Imagine what that can do to support locally grown produce and the fishing industry.
OldFort2012 6 years, 10 months ago
The average Bahamian family cannot afford fish because it is ridiculously expensive relative to what it should be, given that it is right here on our doorstep, and because they work for minimum wage at those burger joints.
Tax the burger joints and use the proceeds to give free fuel to the fishermen and subsidize the price of fish. We will have all the food in the world at a price cheaper than a burger.
realitycheck242 6 years, 10 months ago
Its cheaper to hire your own fisherman in a family island and have him send you some fish every month on the mail boat in the long run because them burger are made up of many no good animals parts with growth hormones and them chicken gat arsenic
joeblow 6 years, 10 months ago
Not only do you have to buy the fish, you also have to pay someone to clean them! Its a racket!!
Sickened 6 years, 10 months ago
Pay someone to clean the fish! You gotta be joking! What Bahamian adult doesn't know how to clean a fish? People only pay this because they are too lazy or they don't want to get scales on themselves.
professionalbahamian 6 years, 10 months ago
How about the government ONLY reduce taxes on healthier items and NOT remove anything from the age old bread basket list.
If more taxes designed to promote healthy living is what they want then add further taxes to alcohol and cigarettes (leave freedom of choice with the individual!).
joeblow 6 years, 10 months ago
Why is the government "aiming" to address the breadbasket item issue after ONE YEAR in office with doctors as MOH and Prime Minister? This could have been addressed in less than one week if they were serious! Incompetents!
ohdrap4 6 years, 10 months ago
the basket is called bread for a reason.
you need to subsidize white bread to feed the poor.
since last year, Mozambique, Egypt, and now Jordan removed the subsidy to make white pita bread. it has only led to trouble.
in 1789, they decapited the king of France because of bread.
bogart 6 years, 10 months ago
@ hrysippus couldnt agree wid you more. ....but merchants have to bring on goods some hav exclusives etc, , shippers have to be paid, truckers have to buy gas to transport, some roi are good some margonal, govt needs all the stamp duty which then goes to pay salaries and support ...agencies etcetcetc ......on the Doctors prescribing....well das one whole nodder story cause some carry a limited amount of drugs in dere office, mabye some samples from the wholesaler and the patient gets medication.....some even own dere own pharmacy ...plus on da odder side you hav Pharmacists wid dere own separate busines depending on the doctor....then on da odder side you hav people talkingan sellin on the radio medecine....so who bin lookin out for the small man all dis while?? ......on the price of fish being high its obbious you yinna does pull up in your medcedes, bmws, lexus to buy fish, ......just go to the fish house.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 10 months ago
This should be the "new breadbasket list" criteria ........... they should all be able to grow in The Bahamas ......... cassava, sweet potato, banana, plantain and corn as starches, chicken, pork and fish as proteins and all the local fruits and veggies ....... and that would do FOUR things 1) stimulate more local production and 2) create more local manufacturing and industry and 3) provide more jobs and FXsavings, and 4) change the cultural outlook at how we appreciate ourselves and stop this dependency on American and Chinese cheap, poison export foods.
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