Leading article: The case for a fat tax
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tobacco has wreaked its havoc across the world. Now the food industry is following in its wake. Calorie-dense, tasty fast food has spread round the globe in the last four decades, changing dietary habits and leading to an epidemic of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. What can be done? It is time to take a leaf out of tobacco's book and bring in a fat tax. In the UK the idea of imposing extra VAT on burgers, chips and sweets was floated by Downing Street in 2004. It was vetoed by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, on the grounds that it would disproportionately fall on the poor.
Swingeing tobacco taxes have made smoking a minority pastime. We should tackle junk food in the same way. The argument that a fat (or soft-drink) tax would be regressive ignores the fact that the ill health caused by obesity (as by tobacco) falls disproportionately on the poor. They have the most to gain from cutting consumption. A fat tax would achieve more than a fistful of public health campaigns – and would help shore up health care budgets under pressure as never before. It awaits a government with the moral courage to drive it through.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments