A fat tax is a tax or surcharge that is placed upon fattening food, beverages or on overweight individuals. Taxes in denmark are a sacred duty, in a society where very little is sacred. Fat tax gains weight in europe denmark s new fat tax aims to curb rising obesity rates by making unhealthy foods more expensive. This weekend, a socalled fat tax went into effect there. The other books i have come across have their starting point either in medieval or modern history, whereas lauring also gives a pleasant introduction to the prehistoric and the viking age. How the food giants hooked us, pulitzer prize winning journalist michael moss goes inside the world of. It implemented an acrosstheboard tax on all foods with a saturated fat content above 2. Sep 01, 2007 a state of denmark, originally published in 1970, predates the factory series and has a different theme that at the time must have resonated in england, with its strong economic regulation and, in many quarters, embrace of socialism, disdain for capitalism, and belief that individual liberty was a dubious idea, quaint, outdated, and. Pleasure, panic and prohibition since 1800 2011 which looks at the prohibition of alcohol, drugs and tobacco.
People can always switch to an alternative, thats a bit less expensive. Oct 02, 2011 danes who go shopping today will pay an extra 25p on a pack of butter and 8p on a packet of crisps, as the new tax on foods which contain more than 2. The fat tax was the first of its kind in the world. Denmark said saturday it would scrap a fat tax it introduced a little over a year ago in a world first, saying the measure was costly and failed to change.
A fat tax aims to decrease the consumption of foods that are linked to obesity. How the food industry manipulates taste buds with salt sugar fat. Some of the countries which have introduced sugar taxes on, for example. The danish fat taxeffects on consumption patterns and risk. The danish government announced saturday it would abolish the fat tax as part of budget negotiations there. The danes want to make it harder for their own people to eat fatty foods despite being one of the worlds great producers and exporters butter, cheese, and. The salt denmark plans to abolish its socalled fat tax after barely a year, citing hardships on business and the poor. Although only 10% of the danish population is overweight, the countrys food experts think that saturated fat may be responsible for higher death rates. Danes may bring back butter as government rolls back fat tax by sidsel overgaard nov, 2012. Fat taxes in europe a legal and policy analysis under eu and wto law alberto alemanno ignacio carreno abstract at a time in which food taxes are gaining momentum throughout europe, this paper provides an initial analysis of the genesis, rationale, scientific evidence and legal implications stemming from the. In his newest book, meik wiking explores what the rest of the world can learn from denmark about personal fulfillment. The fat tax is one of the most criticized we had in a long time, mette gjerskov. Denmark s obesity rate may be low compared to many other countries, but its love of meat and dairy had officials in the previous administration worried enough to levy the socalled fat tax. Hungary applies fat tax on foods high in sugar, salt and fat.
Denmark first country to legalize fat tax earth eats. You can experience the literature, food, art, or take a virtual tour with volumes of travel writing and photography. Denmark is the first country to introduce a fat tax on foods with high saturated fat content. Denmark plans to abolish its socalled fat tax after barely a year, citing hardships on business and the poor.
Nov 12, 2012 the worlds first fat tax will soon also be the first to be abolished. The danish government is applying a surcharge to foods with more than 2. They also argue that the tax should not be limited to fats alone, because people might switch to other unhealthy foods with sugar and salt in them. Citing a harmful effect on businesses and consumer buying power, lawmakers in denmark have repealed the socalled fat tax, which was charged on foods high in saturated fats, after just one year. When compared to the year preceding and the year following the fat tax, during which sales increased, this marginal decrease indicates that the fat tax had some effect on the consumption of the taxed foods. Fat is a fiscalpolicy issue taxing fat and subsidising. What the world can learn from denmarks failed fat tax. Rahul sachitanand, et bureau last week, the kerala government imposed a 14. Denmark has decided to abolish its fat tax after barely a year, citing too many negative side effects hitting businesses. Authors sarai walker and mona awad were tired of the way fat characters were and werent portrayed in fiction. As part of a move to curb the consumption of apparently western fast food, thomas isaac, finance minister in the newly elected ldf government, announced plans to. The socalled fat tax imposed a penalty of 16 kroner per kilogram of saturated fat, which.
Oct 03, 2011 denmark has imposed a fat tax on fatty foods in an effort to convince danes to eat healthier. If shoppers still purchased butter, cheese, and other fat laden goodies like pizza, then the country got the revenue. In denmark in 2011, the media announced the implementation of a fat tax on products with high fat content to address rising obesity rates among the danish and the relatively lower life expectancy. Denmark has introduced what is believed to be the worlds first tax on foods containing saturated fat. In theory, the workings of the fat tax are displayed in the following graph. Books about copenhagen and denmark i have long dreamed of moving to copenhagen, denmark. Nov 10, 2012 image caption the tax increased the cost of butter and other foods with more than 2. Brunnerbrown, john andrew 2014 fat taxes fighting globesity ignore food demand. The tax on saturated fat is expected to account for more than onethird of that. Eight countries that have declared war on junk food text. The tax s advocates wanted to hit things like potato crisps and hot dogs, but it was applied also to highend fare like speciality cheeses. Consumption of fatty foods have external costs on society.
Denmark has taxed saturated fats since october 2011, and the experiment has been a failure. Nov 10, 2012 denmark to scrap worlds first fat tax. The fat tax and nutrition taxes in denmark the danish fat tax was presented as part of a tax reform package in 2009. My immediate reaction was one of frustration and disbelief because it is obviously a political decision and not a decision based on good science. Fat tax in denmark is repealed after criticism the new. According to the ny state health department, the fat tax proposed in new york would apply to all drinks that contain more than ten calories per eight ounces, such as soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, colas, fruit or vegetable drinks containing less than. If you crave comfort food in denmark to lift your mood, itll cost you. Denmark imposes fat tax on food to curb obesity the independent subscribe now. Oct 03, 2011 the outgoing conservative danish government planned the fat tax as part of a goal to increase the average life expectancy of danes, currently below the oecd average at 79 years, by three years. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. Born in north yorkshire, he now lives with his wife.
As denmark becomes the first country in the world to introduce a tax on foods containing saturated fat, a public health expert tells channel 4 news the uk. The skinny on denmarks fat tax denmark s lawmakers thought they had a winwin through a tax on food with more than 2. Although denmark recently lost the title of worlds happiest country to finland, danish lykke is the buzzword of the year. After being voted for by an overwhelming majority of mps, the tax on saturated fat led to the short tale of denmark s fat tax can be easily told. Fat tax i introduction i disadvantages of a fat tax.
The skinny on the fat tax committee for economic development. Similarly, a fat tax is a tax applied to foods containing a specified level of fat, or a certain kind of fat, in order to reduce health and economic problems produced by the overconsumption of these foods. A fat tax would make people pay the social cost of unhealthy food. The fact that this word exists in the danish language should help to. Denmarks lawmakers thought they had a winwin through a tax on food with more than 2. Lykke is danish for happiness, but it is also a state of mind. Prime minister david cameron said he was considering a fat tax similar to denmark s, referring to the united states in a local tv interview. On october 1, 2011, denmark introduced the worlds first fat tax, with the aim of reducing cardiovascular disease. During the fat tax, the total volume sold of twelve of the main foodstuff categories targeted by the fat tax was reduced by 0. Mexico applies fat tax on sugary drinks, breakfast cereals, and sweets.
Nov 11, 2012 israel also is weighing a junk food tax, and in the u. Here we go again is a saturated fat tax back on the. Oct 02, 2011 denmark imposes a fat tax october 2, 2011 2. Denmark plans to abolish its socalled fat tax after barely a year, citing hardships. The year you finally read a book about climate change. Denmark cancels fat tax and shelves sugar tax because of treat of job losses article in bmj online 345nov21 1.
However, in recent decades, member states have experimented with different kinds of taxes in order to prevent diabetes and other lifestyle diseases among citizens. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. Oct 03, 2011 denmark has become the first country in the world to tax foods that are high in saturated fats, such as pizza and butter, the latest in a string of global efforts to tackle rising obesity rates. Butter spread so thickly as to reveal teeth marks upon biting. Smillas sense of snow by peter hoeg, the keeper of lost causes by jussi adlerolsen, number the stars by lois lowry, hamlet by.
Bonnie tsui investigates why we swim through people and. In a recent survey, 90% of danes said it would be embarrassing to be seen as someone who does not pay their full tax bill. I was reading an article today about how the governor of new york david paterson is including a fat tax in the 2010 budget. Starting saturday, shoppers in denmark will pay extra kroner according to the saturated fat levels of certain foods. In contrast, betapalmitate structured triglyceride fat. Oct 07, 2011 denmark is the first country to introduce a fat tax on foods with high saturated fat content. The 46th annual meeting of the european society of paediatric. The salt denmark s population is not obese in large numbers, especially when compared to the u. Books on denmark denmark is famous as the fairytale country and the birthplace of lego, but it also offers travelers a rich nightlife, a rural countryside, many music festivals, and ancient forts.
Denmark cancels fat tax and shelves sugar tax because of threat of job losses. In the us, battles are being fought over taxes on sugary drinks. It hit all food items with a saturated fat content exceeding 2. After being voted for by an overwhelming majority of mps, the tax on saturated fat led to inflation, crossborder shopping, job losses and. This was one of the reasons cited by the danish tax ministry for their decision to scrap the worlds first fat tax. After being voted for by an overwhelming majority of mps, the tax on saturated fat led.
Why fat taxes wont make us thin journal of public health. The tax is a complex one, in which rates will correspond with the percentage of fat in a product. Denmark imposed a tax on foods high in saturated fats in 2011, only to repeal it in. First up, they all 3 authors are public health analysts, none has published an experiment are modelling the predicted effect of a tax on fat consumption, using data from denmark, which had a shortlived saturated fat tax. In denmark, the fat tax was portrayed as a classic pigouvian tax. Some of the countries which have introduced sugar taxes. Fat tax denmark taxes on fatty food in denmark, uk, and us.
I have a fascination with copenhagen in general and denmark in particular. Meanwhile, denmark s food minister is reportedly asking major grocery chains to promise that they will lower prices. Learning english words in the news denmarks fat tax. Denmark scraps its infamous fat tax after only one year. Danes may bring back butter as government rolls back fat tax. For example, eating unhealthy foods contributes to the problem of obesity. Denmark admits its fat tax failure adam smith institute.
Yet in practice, the worlds first fat tax proved to be a cumbersome chore with undesirable side effects. One gourmet cheesemaker cut his range of products when his creamy danish blue saw. In an effort to combat obesity, danish lawmakers introduced a tax on saturated fat rich foods last year. Oct 06, 2011 not a tax for fat people, exactly an idea we once considered on more satirical grounds, but a tax for fatty food. Fat tax lands on denmarks favorite foods times are tough in europe these days. Critics argue the tax will be regressive taking more from lowincome groups. Fat tax in denmark is repealed after criticism the new york times. With this book, for instance, you dont miss real flavor pass it on. Jan 29, 2010 denmark thrives despite high taxes denmark has the highest income taxes in the world, but it also enjoys low unemployment and steady economic growth. A proposed sugar tax that was meant to be introduced in 20 has also been. Oct 03, 2011 denmark taxes butter and fat, but will it work. A fat tax is a type of pigovian tax a tax that is levied on legitimate market activity that.
Denmark scraps worlds first fat tax the washington post. The danish government has said it intends to abolish a tax on foods which are high in. In a country known for butter and bacon, denmark s new tax is a body blow. A fat tax aims to discourage unhealthy diets and offset the economic costs of obesity. Denmarks experience suggests one of the big challenges with regulating unhealthy foods. Fat taxes ggu law digital commons golden gate university. And while some danes might celebrate by spreading on the toothbutter, other. It would be similar in principle to a cigarette or alcohol tax.
Nov, 2012 about a year ago, the danish government tested out a policy never before seen in the world. Fat is a fiscalpolicy issue taxing fat and subsidising healthy eating widens inequality a study suggests lowerincome families end up paying more for. Ana kasparian and cenk uygur discuss on the young turks. Denmark to scrap worlds first fat tax medical xpress. What the world can learn from denmarks failed fat tax the. Denmark imposes fat tax on food to curb obesity the. Denmark has become the first country in the world to impose a fat tax on unhealthy foods. Eight countries that have declared war on junk food.
Denmarks food taxes a fat chance europe the economist. Denmark will become likely the worlds first country to impose a tax on foods with high saturated fat. In 2011 the danish government, concerned about the populations obesity rate and heart disease, imposed a tax on saturated fats and the foods that contain them such as butter, whole fat milk and red meats. Danes are worried that the tax has increased food bills which was the point of the tax and that it could be threatening the food industry. A third problem with the logic behind a fat tax is that even if we could successfully define an unhealthy diet and impose a tax on it there would be a high administrative cost to producers and outlets. How the food giants hooked us, pulitzer prizewinning journalist michael moss goes inside the world of. Prices include handling and shipping, but not sales tax, e. The argument is that a fat tax would encourage healthier eating and raise revenue to be spent on public health care. Maybe a little bit at first, but then theyll go up again. But the tax imposed some unexpected burdens on businesses, and was revoked by the beginning of 20. Denmark introduced a fat tax in 2011 but ended up repealing it in 20 when it found consumers shopping across the border for high fat foods. Body blow for butterloving danes as fat tax kicks in. Apr, 2018 there are several other books about danish history on the market, but this one starts from the beginning if you want. Denmark has become the first country in the world to introduce a tax on foods seen as being harmful to health.
Euroanaesthesia 20 abstract book european journal of. Keith devlin, top 10 reasons why the bmi is bogus, npr jul. Denmark used books, rare books and new books find all books by denmark and compare prices find signed collectible books by denmark english. Fat tax definition and meaning collins english dictionary.
247 432 818 1183 1384 646 1555 734 1409 385 1212 1176 328 1378 135 1102 1137 1454 1302 979 700 609 654 1521 1010 243 986 1451 93 1284 955 1387 550 560 1391 233 944 291 1176 526 22 404