Fat Tax

Taxing cigarettes hasn't stopped smokers.

I think people need to stop relying on Government agencies to impose will power on them and take charge of their own lives.

Having said that, prices for healthy foods are outrageous. I pay almost $4 a pound for organic apples when our farmer's market is closed during the colder months. My organic milk is almost twice the price of mass produced "junk" milk.

It looks like the tax in the article is targeting fats, namely animal fats, which is well and good for people that eat veggies, fruits, and other carbs, but what about those who rely on animal fats for the bulk of their diet and still live a perfectly healthy lifestyle? Honestly, I think targeting and taxing any specific food is juvenile at best.

Taxing cigarettes hasn't stopped smokers.

true.

true true

I guess from a government's perspective, it makes sense. They make more money and they force people to think about what they are eating (financial incentives seem to have that effect). I hate the idea that it needs to be legislated but frankly, if it doesn't make financial sense for food processors, restaurants, distributors to make food healthy (profit margins and logistics are more complicated/expensive), then I don't see how else to force the issue but to apply a tax.

That said, I think educating people at a young age better would be ideal. My folks came from the "finish your plate" camp and my sister and I are the result of that (along with lack of exercise which is certainly our fault). The problem with this approach is "what to teach". The FDA is in bed with special interest groups that are clearly clearly clearly effecting government policy on the subject. Maybe just teach the real science of how the body works and let kids make that call? Heck, a semester teaching kids to use MFP in Health class probably wouldn't be a bad idea.

MFP for President! :-)

I hate the idea. I am on this journey by choice, not because my government needs to tell me what is good for me or not.

Of course, I also don't think there should be a sin tax on things like cigarettes and alcohol either.

If I want to shove 60 twinkies down my throat, then that is my choice. I don't think the government needs to penalize me for doing it. I'm already hurting myself.

You want to force someone else to pay more for food just because it is unhealthy for them? What if it is the only food choice they could afford (I don't really think this, btw - it's just for argument's sake) and now you have made daily life harder for someone because government needs to make health decisions for you.

Besides, you are going to eat twinkies if you want twinkies, no matter what they may cost. I don't know about you, but the majority of smokers I know all seem to be hovering just over the poverty level. That sin tax didn't stop them either.

The fat tax is sort of like the smoking tax. The argument is that these folks cost the system more. In the short run, that may be true but in the long run, not so sure. Smokers and morbidly obese people generally do not live as long as non smokers and those who keep their weight in tow. I don't like the idea at all for taxing human behavior. You can lead a horse to water but you can not make it drink.

I think SyllyReth that we are talking about the processed foods. I'm not sure if you're aware (as I'm not sure where you're from!) but here in the UK, most food is "traffic-lit" so each component of the nutritional info is highlighted in green red or yellow if depending on its nutritional balance. For example, if it's high in salt it would be red and if its high in sugar then red or low in fat, it's green or average yellow. I think if they decided that processed foods (that are not solo or elementary ingredients (so vegetables, plain meats, plain cheese, etc)) that met a certain criteria - i.e 2 nutritional components being red then they should have a higher tax on them or VAT.

Having said that, prices for healthy foods are outrageous. I pay almost $4 a pound for organic apples when our farmer's market is closed during the colder months. My organic milk is almost twice the price of mass produced "junk" milk.

Organic food is very pricy. But most people do not buy organic and can still eat healthy. Organic does not equate to health. It might mean healthy-er in the way of no hormones or pesticides or whatever but, is not the end all to the eating healthy equation. Frozen veggies are like 85 cents at the store I go to ( when they are not on sale) for a large bag, A bag or chicken breast frozen ( no skin) 6 dollars and it is a large bag Fish 9 dollars for a large bag of tillapia filets . ( @ walmart) Fresh produce is a little more expensive when you cant go to farmers market but, when you are only buying things like fruit or salad mix it can happen. Even on a budget.

and on top of that Healthy food is more expensive becasue it is not consumed as much and takes more to produce. You cant make organic food or regular produce cheaper if a majority of people are not buying it. What will the farmers do then?

Hey everyone, I just found this article (http://news.yahoo.com/beating-butter-denmark-imposes-worlds-first-fat-tax-075500822.html) on yahoo. I'm just curious as to what your opinion is of this. In all honesty, sometimes my excuse for eating the crappier item is. "but it was cheaper!" That's inexcusable, and I really think this is a good idea.

What's cheap isn't fat so much as all the freakin' carbs. Wheat and sugar in EVERYTHING. Even canned tomatoes.

The government needs to stop telling us what to do. It's just another form of nanny state-ism and it's a very slippery slope. Taxing fats and junk food won't make people make healthier choices. People make these food choices every day and I don't think it will deter them from choosing these foods in the future. It's just another way for the govt to exploit us. It's also kind of ironic. They don't want us to eat that stuff so they make it more expensive yet they really want us to keep eating that stuff so they can make money off of us. Gosh, I hate intrusive government.

THANK YOU! Dead on!

If I thought it had a snowball's chance in hell of making anyone healthier I might be for it. The fact of the matter is that people's unhealthy choices affect other people (i.e. health care costs).

I don't generally have a problem with the government making laws that help people make healthier choices, but I don't think this type of tax would be effective at doing that.

I like taxes. they pay for all kinds of useful things that help me live better. They should be used as a source of revenue, however, not a punishment.

Having said all that. At my workplace, the "healthier" snack choices in the vending machines are cheaper while the unhealthy ones are more expensive. Whether that means there's an implied tax on the junk food or a subsidy on the health food is probably just a question of semantics.

Taxing cigarettes hasn't stopped smokers.

Actually it has stopped SOME smokers. I saw a study done by some graduate students at the University of Arizona, where I am currently enrolled, for this exact topic. Arizona has seen a few significant tax hikes on cigarettes over the previous 30 years, some of them federally mandated and some of them levied by the state. These students looked at the purchase of cigarettes as a trend line during that time frame and there were definite downward sales spikes immediately following a tax increase and sales did not return to their former levels at any time after. Increasing the price WILL influence some people to quit smoking, but it obviously doesn't influence the greater percentage.

I am sure that this "fat tax" will see some of the same results.

Are we sure the tax was the cause of the decline or is it a conclusion based on a correlation? Is it possible that other factors such as anti-smoking campaigns may have been at least partially responsible?

Saturated fat is not the enemy. Trans-fat is. It is toxic. Oils used at high heat break down into trans-fats which are toxic to the body and cause plaque in the arteries and inflamation as well. Transfats = anything fried in high heat, and anything that's listed as hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated oils.

Good sat fat = coconut oils. Polynesians who stick w/native diets including coconut oils do not have ms. When looking for ingredients look for those that are high in Omega 3s but relativly low or missing Omega 6s we DO NOT have issues getting enough Omega 6s in our Western diets. (there are at least a couple other sat fats that are good but I can't think of them and as things go butter is not that bad.

Taxing fat solves nothing. Only gvt actions I would like to see would be those that encorage local gardening. Public edibles instead of freaking' toxic ornamentals everywhere! Onsite gardening for schools! Tax breaks for Apartments and Businesses that either provide onsite gardens or space for people to garden for themselves!

Oh and sugar, nitrates, fake sugars, sugar alchahols, nitrates, sulfates and msg = far more harmful to health than butter!