'Fat tax' arguments gaining weight

Thursday, 20 October 2011 10:42 AM

Brits are still undecided as to whether a proposed 'fat tax' on high-calorie foods would actually encourage healthier eating. The latest YouGov poll found 45% would support a new tax on low-nutrient, high-fat and sugar foods where the money amassed would mean other taxes could be lowered, but 45% would oppose such a measure.

But the majority agree that the idea of obese people being forced to pay for treatment for issues caused by their weight, and the idea of barring such patients from treatment until they have lost the weight, should not go ahead.

Researchers at Oxford and Nottingham University have claimed that if unhealthy foods were subject to VAT, it could save up to 3,200 lives a year. Prime Minister David Cameron has proposed similar measures to those seen in Denmark – which is currently the only European nation to levy a ‘fat tax’ on calorie-rich foods containing more than 2.3% saturated fat.

Mr Cameron says that obesity is now on the brink of overtaking smoking and drinking as the ‘biggest health challenge’ facing Britain.

"‘I am worried about the costs to the health service [and] the fact that some people are going to have shorter lives than their parents," he said,

Many children eat crisps every day

Almost one in five children 'eat crisps every day'

Though the majority of British children appear to have adopted a healthy attitude towards nutrition, what they actually eat on a day to day basis is a very different matter indeed. Almost one in five, 17%, of children surveyed ate crisps every day.

 Slimming World groups discussed junk food tax

Junk food tax gets slimmers' support

Fast food should be taxed like cigarettes and alcohol, say campaigners. A poll for Slimming World of around 1,000 members found that the majority would support a junk food tax if the money raised was used to subsidise the cost of healthy foods.
'Fat tax' on unhealthy food and drink

'Fat tax' could help tackle obesity

A controversial “fat tax” is being discussed to help Britain ease the problem of obesity. Ahead of the 65th World Health Assembly in Geneva from May 21 to May 26, medical experts have proposed a 20% tax to be levied against unhealthy food and drink.

 Government rethink 'pasty tax'

Government drops pasty tax plans

Has the humble pasty been saved? The Government has signalled retreat on controversial tax rises on pasties, which were announced as part of the last Budget. The unpopular Treasury tax was targetted at hot food vendors and bakers.
Some are more sensitive to fatty foods

Genetic research finds sensitivity to fat content

Are our taste buds to blame for overeating and indulgence? Our tongues are more or less sensitive to fat according to variations in our genes, new research suggests. The CD36 gene is far more sensitive to the presence of fat than others.

 A low-fat diet with fish oil slowed cancer

Low-fat, fish oil diet 'slows growth of prostate cancer cells'

A low-fat diet with fish oil supplements for four to six weeks has been found to slow the growth of prostate cancer cells in human tissue, in a study by researchers at UCLA that compared the regime with a traditional high-fat Western diet.
Bananas are not calorie rich per 100g

Brits 'in denial about calorie content'

Being overweight is a factor in a number of diseases, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes - but new research shows many Brits underestimate the calorie content of everyday foods, confused by labels such as ‘light’ and ‘reduced fat’.

 Brits love milk chocolate says to new poll

Poll shows Brits love milk chocolate

A new survey by pollsters You Gove has revealed that more than half of British people prefer milk chocolate to the white or dark varieties. Under a third of all those polled selected dark chocolate as their favourite while white chocolate polled poorly with just over one in ten naming it as their favourite.

Free Newsletter

Sign up to foodnotes.co.uk's free newsletter.

Subject to terms of use and privacy policy

Broccoli helps kill cancer cells

Broccoli helps kill cancer cells

We have long been told about the health benefits of superfoods but now Sulforaphane, one of the primary phytochemicals in broccoli has been proved to selectively target and kill prostate cancer cells, leaving normal prostate cells healthy and unaffected.

Over half of Brits want to shed 'at least a stone'

weight loss

The study commissioned by diet aid manufacturer Slimsticks, also discovered that a worrying one in five people have followed an ‘eating is cheating’ starvation diet and one in ten have tried a liquid diet.

Headlines