Britain considers 'fat tax'
2004-02-19 09:07
London - Britain's government is considering trying to tackle increasing levels of obesity by imposing a so-called "fatty food tax" on foodstuffs with poor nutritional value, according to a report.
Other measures being considered include standardised labelling of fat and sugar contents in processed foods, The Times said in its Thursday edition.
According to the newspaper, Prime Minister Tony Blair's official think tank has drawn up proposals to tackle consumption of unhealthy items such as burgers, potato crisps and soft drinks.
In as-yet unpublished document seen by the newspaper, the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit admitted that a rising trend towards fatness among British people was "largely outside the direct influence" of the country's health service.
One plan could be to impose "improved regulated nutritional standards for common processed foods and drinks" to inform the public.
"There might even be potential to consider fiscal measures - a 'fatty food tax' applied to food not people - or different VAT treatment for foods with poor nutritional standards," it said, referring to value added tax, a 17.5% sales tax imposed on certain goods in Britain.
"This would be a signal to producers as well as consumers, and serve more broadly as a signal to society that nutritional content in food is important."
Earlier this month, British doctors' groups urged the government to take swift action over the "terrifying health consequences" of the nation's obesity problem.
A joint report by three leading medical groups warned that if nothing was done, a third of all British adults would be clinically obese by 2020, as well as a similar proportion of girls and a fifth of all boys.