University of Oxford director Mike Rayner, urges government to tax all unhealthy foods from butter to biscuits.
Fat tax could help save thousands of lives. A fat tax could raise money and encourages people to eat more healthy foods, Rayner says.
The health promotion research group director said that at least 1/4 portion of the British adults are obese and that this drives the government to spend billions of pounds every year on health services.
He called for taxes of fatty foods like soft drinks for 12p, 2 cents bigger than fat tax in France. He claims that it would prevent thousands of death a year as people will now opt to buy healthier drinks.
Labour MP Angela Eagle and Liberal Democrat minister Steve Webb, however, suggested that better packaging and eduction would be more practical than adding tax on fatty foods.
“Taxes were already used to discourage people from drinking or smoking. Fat tax plan would definitely raise money for the Treasury and prevent deaths.” says Mr Rayner.
“There’s evidence to show that manipulating food prices can encourage healthy eating. So why are we so reluctant to change the way we tax food?” Rayner added.
By in Food, Health
April 20, 2012 - 11:24 am
University of Oxford director Mike Rayner, urges government to tax all unhealthy foods from butter to biscuits.
Fat tax could help save thousands of lives. A fat tax could raise money and encourages people to eat more healthy foods, Rayner says.
The health promotion research group director said that at least 1/4 portion of the British adults are obese and that this drives the government to spend billions of pounds every year on health services.
He called for taxes of fatty foods like soft drinks for 12p, 2 cents bigger than fat tax in France. He claims that it would prevent thousands of death a year as people will now opt to buy healthier drinks.
Labour MP Angela Eagle and Liberal Democrat minister Steve Webb, however, suggested that better packaging and eduction would be more practical than adding tax on fatty foods.
“Taxes were already used to discourage people from drinking or smoking. Fat tax plan would definitely raise money for the Treasury and prevent deaths.” says Mr Rayner.
“There’s evidence to show that manipulating food prices can encourage healthy eating. So why are we so reluctant to change the way we tax food?” Rayner added.
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