The European Union is preparing to change course in the fight against cardiovascular diseases, the main cause of death on the continent. The European Commission is considering introducing a tax on ultra-processed foods and alcopops (low-alcohol drinks) at EU level, with the aim of combating cardiovascular disease.
The news was reported exclusively by Euractiv, which has seen the draft of the European Cardiovascular Health Plan that the executive will present in December 2025.
Why ultra-processed foods and alcopops in the crosshairs
According to the draft European Plan for Cardiovascular Health, supervised by Health Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi, it is time to take concrete action on prevention, which has so far been too neglected despite being the most effective and economical approach to protect European citizens.
The plan is based on three fundamental pillars: prevention, early diagnosis through targeted screening, and treatment. But it is precisely on the first front that Brussels wants to make a decisive change.
The document points the finger at the main enemies of heart health: alcohol, tobacco, new nicotine products and above all ultra-processed foods. The latter – rich in fats, sugars and salt (the acronym used is HFSS) – represent a serious threat to European public health, contributing massively to the epidemic of cardiovascular diseases.
Particular attention is then paid to alcopops, alcoholic drinks with a sweet and captivating flavor that mask the presence of alcohol, making them dangerously attractive especially for younger people.
The Commission’s strategy is clear: shift the axis from treatment to prevention, encouraging healthier lifestyles through targeted fiscal instruments that could make these products less accessible and convenient.
The tax planned for 2026
According to Euractiv, the plan provides for the introduction of specific tax levies at EU level starting from 2026, aimed precisely at these products. This is an innovative step, which aims to discourage the consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugary or light alcoholic drinks, instead encouraging healthier food choices.
The European Cardiovascular Health Plan sets ambitious goals for 2035:
To support these goals, the Commission should launch the EU cares for your heart initiative, designed to offer a digitally enabled, personalized lifelong approach, and help national governments develop national cardiovascular health plans by 2027.
Other piano instruments
In addition to the tax on ultra-processed foods, the document highlights:
The goal is to move towards a healthier Europe. As Euractiv underlines, the Commission seems to want to tackle the problem at its root, intervening not only on the treatment of diseases, but also on eating habits and the consumption of products harmful to the heart.
