Denmark has recently instituted the world’s first imposed “Fat Tax” due to research showing that less than 10% of the population was considered “obese” and it contributed to 4% of the country’s premature death. The foods targeted are high in saturated fats such as dairy products and lard. (Time Magazine)
Opponents of the tax claim it is the government’s way of filling their coffers.
Denmark has banned potential harmful ingredients from being used in food products and forbid importation of certain foods into the country based on the ingredients used to process the food such as transfats, the ingredient used mostly in snack foods. They have attributed the ban to a 30% lower incident of cardiovascular disease.
Is the “Fat Tax” a good idea or a knee jerk reaction?
The foods it targets are high in saturated fats, but mostly natural products. Butter, other dairy products, olive oil, etc.
The French eat foods high in saturated fats (butter is the main ingredient in a lot of the food) and are among the healthiest people in the world. They also ban harmful ingredients to be used or imported into the country.
Some would argue that it is not the type of fat, but the process the product is subjected to.
Processed foods are refined, bleached, crunched, ground, mixed with fillers, emulsifying agents and anti clumping compounds. Artificial colors added to make it pleasing to look at. Synthetic sweeteners or heavily refined sugars are added under the pretense they are derived from “natural” sources.
Research has shown that artificial sweeteners contribute to cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and don’t help you lose weight and actually cause you to gain weight.
High fructose corn syrup, used in almost everything we eat, contributes to weight gain, which will cause other ailments such as diabetes and organ stress.
Do you realize almost every “fast food” burger has high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient? When I make my burgers (deemed among the best burgers ever by my guests), I have yet to add any type of sweeteners to them. I only add, oh sorry…secret recipe, all natural ingredients.
So, could something like the “Fat Tax” ever fly here in the United States?
Doubt it.
The government is uneducated or doesn’t care as to what is healthy or harmful to people.
Your pet or farm animal is getting better nutrition than you are.
Many of the officials in Washington D.C. that are involved in the scrutiny of your food were also high administration officials in the very same companies that produce the artificial and/or harmful ingredients that you eat and feed your families. Many of these ingredients are banned from importation into other countries based on their track record and research documenting their harmful effects on humans.
Start reading the labels on your food packages. Do you know what each ingredient is? Can you pronounce it? What’s a GMO?
There is no way that we can implement a fair “Fat Tax” without sweeping reform in Washington and without pulling almost EVERY food item off the shelf.
But changes can be made as to the production of our food and education to the public.
Cigarettes now have warning labels on the packaging declaring what could (or will) happen if you smoke.
How about food ingredients?
Might read something like this;
These ingredients have been clinically shown to cause diabetes, weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney stress/failure, liver stress/failure, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, skin disease, hair loss, etc., etc.
Warning labels for food? Yeah, that’ll happen…
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