More than half of Brits want new taxes on the makers of junk food or ultra-processed food in a bid to tackle obesity, a new survey suggests.

According to findings from Ipsos for the Health Foundation thinktank, 58% of respondents said they would stand behind a tax on companies that produce high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) foods, with some proceeds raised to be used to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables for lower income families, The Guardian reported.

The same policy approach for introducing a tax on organisations that produce ultra-processed food such as ham and biscuits gained support from 53% of the representative sample of 2,136 UK adults.

Just 19% were against the idea of taxing junk food producers, while 24% opposed taxing ultra-processed food manufacturers and 21% did not know.

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Health Foundation senior policy fellow Adam Briggs said: “These findings underline the opportunity for the new government to take a bolder approach to population-level action, pursuing its ambitions to improve healthy life expectancy and reduce inequalities, while continuing to provide support for those who need it.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care told The Guardian: “Prevention is better than cure, which is why this government will make it our mission to shift the focus of healthcare from simply treating ill-health to preventing it in the first place.”

Labour’s manifesto pledges on obesity included banning the advertising of junk food to children before 9pm on TV, alongside the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s.

Since 1 October 2022, UK supermarkets have been subject to regulations on high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products, with these items banned from store entrances, gondola ends and checkouts, which has so far resulted in a decline in chocolate consumption.

However in May, retailers called on the government to shift its focus onto local takeaways amid concerns that unhealthy portions are adding to Britain’s obesity levels.