Before discussing why we need to implement Fat Tax and what it can do, I would like to explain what "JUNK FOOD" is using examples from other countries.
Some might say "Hamburgers are junk food", but what if we made the hamburger healthy with tofu patties and less fat?
Denmark is one of first countries to implement this tax. Although this tax did not last in the country, we can definitely look at what they tried to do in this article on BBC News.
Their tax covered, butter, milk, cheese, pizza, meat, oil and processed food that contain more than 2.3% saturated fat. The tax surcharged 16 kroner($3.80) per kg of saturated fats in food.
How about other food?
According to the journal by Brownell and Frieden in 2009, New York, as well as other states of United States are proposing to tax on soft drinks. So called soft drinks in this case include, sugar-sweetened beverages such as sweetened soda with sugar, corn syrup, or other caloric sweeteners as well as carbonated and uncarbonated beverages which include sports and energy drinks.
Studies have shown that every 10% increase in the price of soft drinks, the consumption rate of the beverages reduces by 7.8%. When Coca-cola has increase the price by 12%, the sales reduced by 14.6%. The results of the reduction in soft drink sales by the increase of the price are evident in other studies shown in the same journal.
In UK, in order to define JUNK FOOD , they use SSCg3d scores. On National Center for Biotechnology information, it explains in one of their articles that the scores estimate how unhealthy a food is by using eight nutritional parameters that score density of food energy, saturated fat, sodium and non-milk extrinsic sugar and subtracted for fruit and vegetable content, iron, calcium and fat that is n-3 polyunsaturated. The scores start with -12 for spinach to +29 for chocolate biscuits.
Now that we know what JUNK FOOD is, don't you think it's time for New Zealand to start taking actions?
Reference:
Denmark introduces
world's first food fat tax. (2011, October 1). Retrieved May 5, 2013, from BBC
News Europe: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15137948
Brownel, K. D.,
& Frieden, T. R. (2009, April 30). Ounces of Prevention — The Public
Policy Case for Taxes on Sugared Beverages. Retrieved May 06, 2013, from
Yale Rudd Center:
http://www.yaleruddcenter.org/resources/upload/docs/what/industry/SodaTaxNEJMApr09.pdf
Mytton, O., Gray,
A., Rayner, M., & Rutter , H. (2007, August). Could targeted food taxes
improve health? Retrieved May 10, 2013, from National Center for
Biotechnology Information:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2652984/
Hi Emma,
ReplyDeleteThis is really well done. The part where you have stated what is Junk Food, did you consider the way stuff is also packaged as a healthy alternative? Museli ( lunch) bars are a prime example here, something which has been paraded around as a way for us all to get a healthy snack but really its one of the most high in sugar things we can eat through out the day, Would you say that it doesnt just need to be a food tax but tighter controls around advertising?
Hi Emma
ReplyDeleteI think your blog is well done and informative and well-presented. I have several comments
1. Taxation Approach. I think we need another tax like we need another hole in the head. People on the lowest income spend the highest proportion of their income on food as opposed to richer people, so raising food costs I see as a negative and hurting the people you are trying to help. Taxes cost money to collect and distribute so a $1 of junk tax collected does not equal $1 spent on anti obesity initiatives.
2. I would support better labelling of high risk food (like on cigarette packet photos) so people start to make a link between what they eat and health outcomes.
3. I would really support the removal of GST (currently 15%) on healthy food like fruit and vegetables so people could see that their grocery money goes further if they buy healthier food.
4. I think the food industry needs to be more honest in it;s presentation of product. Currently if something is advertised as low fat, it is usually high sugar and vice versa. A universal value or number on packet would help the consumer decide e.g 1 out of 10 for least healthy, 10 out of 10 for most healthy
Cheers
Alan