Fat Tax - could we be next

[Willy]

This is what happens when over bearing governments gain to much power.

Denmark's fat tax strikes again

Richard Orange

December 18, 2011

Global Post

MALMO, Sweden — Denmark first slapped a fat tax on saturated fats. Now lawmakers plan to hit sugar, and even chocolate consumption, in the second wave of its pioneering assault on the country's bulging waistlines and clogged arteries.

If, as expected, parliament passes the new tax regime next week, Denmark will levy an extra six Danish Kroner ($1.05) on every kilogram of chocolate. The tax would go into effect on January 1.

From 2013, lawmakers plan a levy on the sugar-content of processed food set at as much as 24 Kroner ($4.20) per kilogram.

"The new tax on sugar in food will first be implemented from 2013, and the details will be discussed in the coming year," said Martin Justesen, a spokesman for the Danish tax department. "The rationale is to improve the health in the Danish population by giving a stronger incitement to buy more healthy food."

It's a trend that could be mimicked all over the world, said Dr. Jorgen Dejgard Jensen at Copenhagen University, whose institute proposed the tax.

"It’s very interesting to see that the Danish government has the courage to try these kinds of measures," he said. "From an academic perspective, we’ve tried to advocate for this for several years, so we’re quite excited that we now have the opportunity to learn how they work."

Danish bakers, famed for their flaky cinnamon pastries, are predictably up in arms.

"Our kind of business is so small, that this is going to affect us big time," said Lars Bogs, the owner of Miss Bagel and Coffee in Elsinore. "If people stop buying our stuff, we’re going to have to start firing people, and what good is that going to do Denmark?"

Bogs has mounted a campaign in the Danish parliament since he first learned of the tax changes last month, writing to every single member asking them to vote against the changes when they go before the house next Wednesday.

"Before the tax was only on candy, but now it will be on everything else that includes sugar," Bogs complained. "If you eat cucumbers in brine, that has sugar in it and will be taxed."

More from GlobalPost: Denmark institutes fat tax

Arne Astrup, head of the human nutrition department at Copenhagen University, said the government was wrong to target chocolate.

"To say that chocolate is unhealthy doesn’t hold any water at all," he told Denmark’s Ekstra Bladet newspaper. "Dark chocolate with no added fat, butter or cream, in particular, has well-documented positive effects."

The Danes are among the developed world’s slimmer peoples, with only one-in-ten classed as obese, compared to one-in-three in the US.

But Dr Jensen points to the extensive evidence linking unhealthy eating to premature deaths.

The first nutritional tax, on saturated fat, has been in effect since October 1. Set at 16 kroner per kilogram ($1.30 per pound) of saturated fat content, the tax pushed the price of a pack of butter up by 45 cents, a bag of potato chips by about 12 cents, and a pound of ground beef by about 20 cents.

Dr Jensen said his institute would not be able to gauge the health impact of that tax, until it received the first data early next year.

Mike Rayner, Director of Oxford University’s Health Promotion Research Group, said that combining the fat tax with higher taxes on sugary products would prevent people substituting fatty foods with sugary treats.

"I think the saturated fat tax by itself would not have been particularly useful, but a saturated fat tax in conjunction with a higher tax on sugary products means they are trying to tackle unhealthy foods on two fronts."

[Willy]

What is the matter with the Swedes and Danes? Are they going to sit on their rears and let some over zealous government agency add more taxes to their already overburdened citizens. I am sick and tired about hearing how know it all Governments are forcing their progressive ideas onto their citizens. I think it will only be a matter of time before the fools in Washington try and force us to pay a fat tax.

[XLFD]

This is a side-effect of making health care a right granted to you by government.  They then feel they can regulate your behavior, so that costs can be kept down and people can be regulated into good health.   

Shrug, if you are an advocate for laxer Medical Marihuana laws and enforcement, why are you willing to let the government try to restrict the poor from eating chocolate and candy?

[Sweater Cows!]

Actually, I don't care so much for the idea of it being a tax or something that is forced on us.

What I don't get is why it costs less for processed foods than it does for fresh fruits and vegetables. How can it costs less to ship some fruit/veg/grain/legume to  factory, put it thru an assembly line of some kind, package it and ship it to stores than it does to put the fruit/veg on a truck and take it to the store?

It seems to me all the manpower, electricity, tooling and whatever else to process a item(s) would be more expensive than getting the individual items.

[Sweater Cows!]

I am not also for more 'lax' MMJ laws, but believe the product should be of the people.by the people. for the people and not some big AG/PHARMA commodity. And the gov't(fed) should not interfere with each states laws. If the State AG does not like the law let him get another ballot proposal up for vote. Not change the laws within the 'elites' of the gov't and their lobbyists.

I also do not feel that the prop 1 as passed was a 'poorly written' proposal as the AG would have the layman believe. It was written very carefully to be what the designers intended.

[Sweater Cows!]

Or, perhaps since I started Weight Watchers this past Monday I am a bit hungry and biased about fattening foods at the moment and basing my thoughts on hunger and emotions about weight!

[Sweater Cows!]

I like this idea. I do think it should only apply to processed foods meant for long shelf storage/not cooking from scratch.  It is not good for anyone  that processed foods cost less than those that are fresh. Of course the time from farm to market for fresh foods affects the price but still the processed should be more money than fresh.

[AQUAMAN]

What do we have here right now? Happy Meal attacks, same with school lunch and breakfast programs, food stamp relaxation, and more Michelle ideas finding their way into our lives. Also some new chocolate change requirements. Remember, this administration feels we should follow and focus on living like the Europeans, not as we are, simply the best, Americans with freedom from gov't. interferences like this. P.S. I'll bet Mr. O goes to Hawaii this weekend anyhow, A.F.1 at your service.

[Marty Redman]

I like your comment right before this one WWAS.  I don't like diets, few people do.  This amounts to Big Brother putting you on a restrictive diet by taxing 'bad' foods'.  What will happen next is they will subsidize 'good' foods.  Celery sticks are 'too healthy too fail' !!!

[easymoney]

I believe it was Gondi who made the statement " he wished all poor country's could be like America, where the poor were all over weight"