U.K. report proposes food tax to combat obesity

A new report is looking at how to reform the U.K.'s food system to encourage people to be healthier. The suggestions range from taxing sugar and salt to getting doctors to prescribe fruits and vegetables. The World Health Organization has deemed obesity as a major factor in COVID-19 deaths.

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[Bluexx]

"I'm going tax all junk food"
"So we can make healthy food affordable, right?"
"..."
"So we can make healthy food affordable, right?"

[MrCanuck]

This is 100% unethical, All it will do is make it harder for the poverty level to eat properly . So disgusting :(

[Arandompersonontheinternet]

Millions of people in food poverty in the UK and growing.
The UK government: Let's tax food more.

[weareorigin]

A full bag of cherries is $12. A box of Oreos is $4 here.

[jay.powerstroke]

Fix obesity just like the carbon tax fixes the ozone

[luciodelgado]

NEW TAXES....UNTIL THEY FOUND ANOTHER EXCUSES....FOR ANOTHER TAX....

[LOVER_LINK]

We need to have the healthier foods be cheaper.

[huntsbychainsaw]

Let's make food more expensive, that'll make people eat healthier... no wait the opposite. First a ridiculous "Carbon tax" now this. What a load of tripe.

[lilwater]

Gov: How do we make more money from poor people?

[drewkoenen]

Totally hilarious! Tax food, sure make lower income people suffer more, especially children. Sorry hunny, I can’t buy that orange for you, it’s over the budget. Auntie Elizabeth needs more money to pay for her castle.

[sarahlanthier]

Just making it harder for people with lower incomes to get healthy food. If they want to reduce obesity, try teaching healthy food habits. The i_weigh podcast for instance is great for promoting a realistic view of food, weight, and how people are effected by negative attitudes towards food.

[sadiemichaels]

Swap the prices on junk vs healthy. Right now, junk food is cheaper and that's not right, I agree with a higher price on junk food but they need to drastically reduce price of or subsidize healthy food.

[DBlue]

Mental capacity is at an all time low.

[stephiegetsit]

Ridiculous, how about just stop adding sugar, saturated fats and starches to foods when they don't really need it, example does sliced turkey meat really need sugar ? No it doesn't why is it in there. Make fruit, vegetables and meats tax free and affordable. More people will eat them.

[ttoch]

Fruits and vegetables should be encouraged. Eat locally grown. Keep the price low.

[wyattarthur]

This is Government Grifting at its finest, Every Solution to every problem is more taxes and God only knows what happens to the money

[KristaJ]

Here’s a clue, make healthy food cheaper.

[maurixiogarciasanchez]

The Tax mafia they are coming with new taxes for the population, instead of helping they are making matters worse.

[carmenirigoyen-lopez]

It is not ethical to tax food! People eat "junk" processed food, because fruits and vegetables are just too expensive! Not to mention meat, fish, poultry! It is time to countries in the whole world and International bodies, like the UN, to declare that food and shelter are basic human rights, not commodities to be taxed!

[deadmoon]

So what is "junk food" ?
Who decides what "junk food is"?
Is meat "junk food"?
Are Eggs "junk food"?
Is whole Wheat "health food"

and so
absolute scumbaggery