10-04-2011, 10:21 AM
The new tax on fatty foods went into effect this week in Denmark. Some Danish commenters feel it's too "big brother" and some feel it's okay but they should then get a reduction on tax for healthy foods. Some Danes commented that it won't work because the Danish will eat what they want, and even more of it, because they resent being told not to do something. Yet others believe it's just another way for the Danish government to collect more taxes.
The reported goal of the Danish government is to increase life expectancy and cut costs associated with health problems resulting from poor diet.
Good idea or too intrusive? Denmark has what the US refers to as socialized health care, so should the government have authority to financially incent people to eat healthier?
Reference:
Denmark has introduced what’s believed to be the world’s first fat food tax, applying a surcharge to foods with more than 2.3 percent saturated fats, in an effort to combat obesity and heart disease.
The new tax of 16 kroner ($2.90) per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of saturated fat in a product will be levied on foods like butter, milk, cheese, pizza, oils and meat.
The Nordic country isn’t known for having a grossly overweight population — only about 10 percent of Danes are considered obese, compared to about one-third of adults (33.8 percent) and approximately 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents age 2—19 years in the United States, according to a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
In 2004, Denmark made it illegal for any food to have more than 2 percent trans fats. In July 2010, the country increased taxes on ice cream, chocolate and sweets by 25 percent. At the same time, Denmark increased taxes on soft drinks, tobacco and alcohol products, beyond the minimum levels established by the EU.
Snipped from: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/...rated-fat/
The reported goal of the Danish government is to increase life expectancy and cut costs associated with health problems resulting from poor diet.
Good idea or too intrusive? Denmark has what the US refers to as socialized health care, so should the government have authority to financially incent people to eat healthier?
Reference:
Denmark has introduced what’s believed to be the world’s first fat food tax, applying a surcharge to foods with more than 2.3 percent saturated fats, in an effort to combat obesity and heart disease.
The new tax of 16 kroner ($2.90) per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of saturated fat in a product will be levied on foods like butter, milk, cheese, pizza, oils and meat.
The Nordic country isn’t known for having a grossly overweight population — only about 10 percent of Danes are considered obese, compared to about one-third of adults (33.8 percent) and approximately 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents age 2—19 years in the United States, according to a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
In 2004, Denmark made it illegal for any food to have more than 2 percent trans fats. In July 2010, the country increased taxes on ice cream, chocolate and sweets by 25 percent. At the same time, Denmark increased taxes on soft drinks, tobacco and alcohol products, beyond the minimum levels established by the EU.
Snipped from: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/...rated-fat/