Denmark adopts world's first-ever 'fat tax'
In this space, we’ve been tracking the idea of the so-called fat tax for years.
Of course, the initiative has been discussed in the public sphere long before Everydaymoney.ca, but it was first mentioned to much buzz here in October of 2009, when some 250 commenters chimed in that the suggested tax was either the best or worst cost-cutting proposal they’d heard.
Then, in March of 2010, we rehashed the topic with the soda tax, which was then being tossed around the New York state legislature. That followed by a news story in May of 2011 – this time, an Illinois Republican senator said, “Scrap the fat tax; tax the parents of obese kids, instead.”
So you get it. Controversial idea. Tons of opinions. Though what no one thought during the whole fat tax discussion, over all its variables and all its strategies, was that it’d actually get passed. Which it has.
In Denmark, lawmakers have officially adopted the world’s first-ever fat tax. From the beginning of this month on, Danes will see a price increase in items that are high in saturated fats, from butter to processed meats and everything in between.
*Bing: What countries pay the highest taxes?
According to Time, oils and high-fat dairy products will see the largest price hikes. Under the new regulation, items will be allowed to have 2.3 per cent saturated fat, tax-free. After 2.3 per cent, saturated fat will be taxed at a rate of about $2.90 per kilogram.
So, a pack of butter will cost about 30 per cent more in Denmark now. A bag of chips: eight per cent more. A litre of olive oil, Time notes, will cost about 7.1 per cent more than it did last month.
Interestingly, we’re talking Denmark here, which ain’t exactly the state of Mississippi. Less than 10 per cent of Danes are considered clinically obese, much lower than the European average.
Still, the country has targeted saturated fats – which researchers at Denmark’s Institute of Food and Resource Economics have attributed to the cause of four per cent of the nation’s premature deaths – and it’s because of that that we tend to believe other countries will follow. Yes, even after all the back-and-forth and “No ways!” mentioned in this post’s intro.
After years of debate, where do you stand on the fat tax now that one progressive nation has adopted it? Considering how we fund healthcare in this country, would a fat tax in Canada be a good or bad idea?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Billy | Oct 4, 2021 12:42:36 PM
Furthermore, a "fat tax" isn't a bad thing as long as we get subsidies for being healthy. For instance pay a "fat tax" but pay less for a gym or sport membership. This way it gives an incentive for people to leave the fatty foods and head toward an active lifestyle. I like to treat myself to unhealthy foods from time to time but I shouldn't have to pay extra for it when I spend time at the gym and being active to balance my lifestyle without getting something in return.
Posted by: Selena | Oct 4, 2021 12:49:00 PM
Anon: I don't know about your situation personally, but anyone with eyes can easily see that the vast majority of wealthy people waste their wealth on comfort items (such as nice cars, hot tubs, etc.). I don't think there is anything wrong with being wealthy, but it is when the wealthy abuse their money and power that problems occur. JR is proposing that perhaps some of this excess money could be used by the government in a better fashion than having the noisiest, most expensive car in town.
Back to the topic of the article, while it may have some small benefit to tax fatty foods, I think it would be better remove the taxes on healthy foods. As it stands now, people without much income usually buy unhealthy foods because it costs less, which usually ends up costing them in the long run in health fees. If the prices were to reverse, and healthy foods were cheaper, than they could be losing excess fat instead of gaining it, and benefit in the end from paying considerably less in healthcare.
However, as is also mentioned in the other comments, overall health does not come down to eating habits. It is a combination of food, excercise, and sleep. If we are to truly become a thinner world, then all three issues need to be addressed. Sleep of course, is difficult, as governments cannot control what time a person is going to go to bed, but anyone in the right mind will try to get as much sleep as they can and still get everything done.
Excersise, on the other hand, is easily manageable. I know a private school near where I live that requires its students to join a sport sometime during the school year. The chosen sport is up to the student, so if they are really competitive, they might choose basketball or rugby, but if they aren't they could try badminton or track. While I never went to this school, so I don't know the statistics, I know that from appearance there were considerably fewer people that I would consider obese. If this tactic could be put into more schools, then kids would learn from a young age to be active, and it would hopefully carry over into their adult lives. If not, then obesity-taxes may be the wakeup call they need.
I don't know the answer, and I don't claim to know the answer, but I do know that it will take more than one small tax in one small country to make a change. I look forward to the day when the world works together to make itself a healthier place.
Posted by: Brian | Oct 4, 2021 1:04:07 PM
Well, the idea is sort of okay in principle.
Clearly we have too many parasites in society that feel with public health care that they can abuse their bodies to great extent knowing that others will pay taxes to support their huge use of the health care system as their organs fail and their joints collapse.
Yet just as clearly, our pathetic governments will take those taxes and push them into general revenues for yet more useless programs that those who work continue to pay for and yet derive no benefit. So expect publicly funded health care to collapse regardless of these taxes in the near future as the costs will SKYROCKET due to personal unaccountability (my favorite topic in the land of entitlement, sigh).
Remember you get the government you ask for. When you cease to do things for yourself (assuming you are willing and able), its the beginning of the end..................
Posted by: Aaron | Oct 4, 2021 1:31:18 PM
I think most people so far posting on this thread really need to take a class in a) economics, b) history and c) nutrition before they spout ignorance as fact.
What the hell happened to people actually knowing what the hell they are talking about before they do it?
Posted by: Fat people are lazy | Oct 4, 2021 2:15:02 PM
@ LM, You are a moron! Fat and obese is the same word! it's a synonym. Saying to someone the she's fat means the're obese FUCKTARD! Don't even try to say that at 5'4'' 170lbs that you are proportionate and not considered huge. Learn how to read the bodymass index properly. The fat people who accept themselves and don't play on the words like saying...oh i'm not fat, i'm undertall, or i'm not fat, i'm obese! Or i'm fat because i have a gland problem! Excuse after excuse. And by the way, YOUR BRAIN IS NOT 70% FAT!! Get an education! Put the fork down, eat properly, go to the gym and do physical activity and stop going to the extreme and going off topic about anorexia...we all know anorexia is bad, you are pointing the finger at another health problem JUST TO TAKE THE HEAT OFF THE FACT THAT YOU ARE FAT! I am and always be in top shape. I train people for a living. The fat people who want to make a difference are in the gym with me and i totally support them 100% because they decided to make a change and guess what, THEY DON'T CRY AND MAKE EXCUSES WHY THEY ARE FAT! They admit they eat the wrong thing, too much, and don't know where to begin, so they come for help and i help them. I am sick and tired of hearing the fat people rip on the girl who is in shape and takes care or herself.
Posted by: Carolrose Carlson | Oct 4, 2021 2:15:02 PM
This is a ridiculous idea. The whole thing tramples on an individual's rights to choose and puts unreasonable pressure on those who don't have enough as it is. In North America, it is frequently the case that healthier foods cost more, not less, than junk food. It's cheaper to eat meat than it is to be a vegetarian; I speak from experience.
I think it would be better if governments would o more to help people loose the weight...free counselling, gym memberships, swim passes. Not every obese person would take advantage of this and it's much more helpful. Continue educating our youngsters about healthy diets and make home ec. a mandatory course, so they learn how to prepare healthy foods for themselves.
I also resent the constant comments I read about what a burden people on welfare put on society. I am one such person. I have two very severe conditions that prevent me from being in the regular work force. I have not worked outside the home often enough to qualify for CPP. My only recourse is to get welfare...but that is not necessarily helpful because they take away my husband's income if he makes too much money...tell me, when our rent is $1600/month and my husband may bring home $2200 in a good month, what is there left to pay all of the other bills?
In a month where we do not get coverage we end up not paying some things which then end up outstanding and won't be covered by welfare in the next month. How is that fair? How can anyone say that we're the ones burdening society?
I am trying to get a beaded jewellery business going but after 6 weeks of being online and I've spent money on some advertising, too, not one of my items has sold. I am doing the best with what I have, so don't call me a burden...be grateful that you have your health and are able to work.
Posted by: Fat people are lazy | Oct 4, 2021 2:31:29 PM
@ Carolrose Carlson
I will let you in on a little secret, it costs you more to eat the junk food than the healthy food and i will tell you why. Let's say you buy apples, oranges, bananas, brocoli, carrots, cucumbers, mushrooms and lettuce. Lets say the total is 20$ So, you eat this with some chicken or fish and other good high protein meats. You will be full and feel great!
Now, buy some bags of chips, cookies, ice cream, candy, chocolat, etc. lets make it come up to the same amount of 20$. If you want to feel as full as you did with the healthy food, you will have to eat twice the amount of junk food. So now your bill just went from 20$ worth of junk food to 40$ worth of junk food.
You will ALWAYS eat more junk food to feel full versus the amount of healthy food. So you are not saving any money by buying the junk food instead of healthy food.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 4, 2021 2:39:29 PM
@ Carolrose Carlson "It's cheaper to eat meat than it is to be a vegetarian; I speak from experience"
What experience is that? Are you serious? Do you understand the food chain? It costs far more to bring meat to market than it does to bring fruits and vegetables. Where do you get your facts?
Posted by: nancy | Oct 4, 2021 4:29:41 PM
The question should be where the tax money is going, is it going to help the single parents or low income families afford the healthy food, is it going to help them be able to buy the food to begin with which i agree fruits and veggies are costly, or is it going to go for the unemployement rate when things get risen to fair and companies go out of buisness therefore putting people out of work,causing a bigger strain on pocketbooks.
As for the reference of fat, sometimes it is not what you eat but how you eat, some people can only afford one meal a day and still become fat, for some its the chemestry of them, some people eat healthy and exersice and still are fat. so hey lets tax that pregant women taking excess seating, or that person with a dieabites, or the guy with the beer gut, heck even the guy who works out to extreme and has big arms and chest that invades my space.
In reality its the people not being educated, which falls to the goverment, the idea of adding and extra tax is silly,if the goverment is not going to follow through with the edcuating,this is a bail out soloution, that is just making the goverment richer and the poorer poorer.
Posted by: Will | Oct 4, 2021 4:53:45 PM
Tax needs to be figured out somehow. You need to let everyone make up their own mind about what they are going to do with their lives - but the government can and does make value decisions. I think health for humans and the environment are the types of things a government should step up on.
Increase gas taxes while simultaneously investing in transit.
Increase taxes on food components known to increase hospitalizations and invest that money in healthy lifestyle initiatives (and recovery for those who do not get healthy).
Make it a selfish decision to be healthy and more people will become healthy. Our government needs to make it in people's best interest to lead the type of life we (as Canadians) value...
PS - How about an ecological tax on companies that pollute!
Posted by: Fat people are lazy | Oct 4, 2021 5:00:11 PM
@ Nancy
You know nothing, If the guy who works out to the extreme that has a nice body is invading your space, maybe YOU are the one invading HIS space. Once again, the typical fat person who is jealous of the fit person. So by reading what you wrote, you are obviously fat and don't do anything about but complain. The person with diabetes can be born with it, but if you are a wide load fat ass (which i assume you are giving the description you wrote) you can develop diabetes because you are obese.
The subject here is taxing the fat people who are costing the government and tax payers a shit load of money because they take up space in hospitals with there health problems they have...do to being FAT, WHICH CAN BE CONTROLED BY THAT PERSON! A desease like diabetes that you are born with, or if you develop cancer in life, needs the hospital bed, but can't have it because some fat person who is selfish is using it.
And for the guy that, once again, is invading your space because of his muscles and toned body, who is fit and healthy might i add, won't be needing the governments money do to being a lazy fat guy.
Posted by: D.R. | Oct 4, 2021 5:02:51 PM
I think it's a good idea, although I don't think every 'fat' item should be taxed because some are actually good for you/ For example: natural peanut/almond butter, nuts, olive oil and seeds. I think they should tax jumk food a.k.a. processed stuff. Bags of chips/cheetos/whatever and those lunchables should be priced up. Also those processed 'cake rolls' you buy in a small box and each one is packaged. Tax the food in a fast food restaurant (McD's for example).
They should also consider LOWERING the prices of the natural, healthy, good-for-you stuff because some healthy stuff is incredibly pricey.
Posted by: Fat people are lazy | Oct 4, 2021 5:12:58 PM
@ D.R.
Finally someone is getting it! Thank you for posting that. The omega 3 fats like you mentioned ( peanut, almond, olive oils) are the good fats!
Chips, beef jerky, milk chocolat and fast food joints should be Fat Taxed!!!
Posted by: Fat people are lazy | Oct 4, 2021 5:17:24 PM
@ Nancy
What the hell are you talking about...the chemestry of them? what does that even mean? Some people eat healthy and exercise and still are fat??? Where do you get these things? All that makes no sense at all!
GO TO THE GYM AND SWEAT AND FEEL THE BURN! WORK HARD AND IT WILL PAY OFF! STOP WHINNING AND CRYING.
Posted by: LM | Oct 4, 2021 5:20:10 PM
I feel sorry to all those who showed so much anger towards me. I don't know where you get the idea that a size 8 is larger than it was a few years ago, because that is just faulse. My mother is also a size 8 which she has been for 40 years and her measurements have not changed. Explain that. As for obese and fat being the same thing. I was refering to the body mass index. It lists 140 as being overweight for me, and 170 being obese. As for me being fat. I have a 27 inch waist, which is perfectly flat. I do 300 crunches twice a day. I should mention that I am a heavy DD which adds to my weight. I own an organic farm, so I eat healthy, no junk food. I work the farm, which means I do physical labour all day, which is a better workout than an hour at the gym. I also have an above ground pool I set up in the summer, and do water arobics and swim lenghts daily for 4 or 5 months out of the year. And I wear a podometer and walk 10 to 12 km a day. I'm fit and healthy. As for the brain not being 70 % fat. Perhaps you should look this up. As for me being a moron I have an IQ of 150. What's yours? Don't attack me.
Posted by: Fat people are lazy | Oct 4, 2021 5:44:35 PM
Ok let me re-phrase this, there is no way that you being 5'4'' short and weighing 170 lbs and you are still dilusional of not seeing you are over weight! Just because you have a large chest, it doesnt mean that it is the cause of you being 170 lbs at 5'4''!!!!! you can have a flat stomach and still be overweight. You must have very big legs and shoulders and arms. As for all your physical activity you do at work or in your pool, if you do not bring your heart rate up to your maximum, you wont burn the fat off. Just because you work on a farm, doesnt mean you are getting your target heart rate is being achieved! SO either you are as muscular as a bodybuilder to be 5'4'' and 170 lbs, or you are lying to yourself and you are overweight! You are not fooling anyone here!
As for 70% of our brain being fat, I know exactly what you are saying...you read this information on the internet, but you have no clue what you read. You are thinking, (because of what you wrote earlier) that the brain is fat as in cellulite...WHICH IS WRONGGGGGGGGGGGGG! The brain consists of fatty tissue that covers the brain and that tissue is 70% fat and 30% water. The brain itself consists of amino acids, omega 3 and essential fatty acids that help brain function! So, how much is your IQ again? Maybe on your way to the library ( or when you take another high school biology lesson) you can pick up a book and read about it! I do not have to validate my knowledge or level of competency by refering to an insignificant I.Q. test. Did your score of 150 tell you that being 5'4'' and 170 lbs is not overweight?
Last but not least, being an organic farmer and eating healthy still doesnt mean that you can't be fat. If you are eating 3 pounds of healthy food 5 times a day, you will gain weight!
Oh sorry, about attacking you, I was defending the fit people and lean fit girl in the corner that you were bashing earlier!
Posted by: Fat people are lazy | Oct 4, 2021 6:11:29 PM
Actually, the funniest thing you wrote was about Sylvester Stalone...''he talks that way because he burned the fat in his brain'' Oh my god that is good! I can't wait to tell everyone why Sylvester Stalone talks the way he does...not because he's Italian and has an Italian accent. Nope, it's because he has no fat left in his brain! So, i guess that goes for Arnold Shwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and all of Europe for that matter!
I have an english accent when i speak french, so i guess that means I have no fat in my head!
Shit, I just heard that Jay Leno speaks with his high pitched voice because he has too much fat in his head!
In conclusion, all I wanted to say is, for everyone to be fit and healthy, do your best to keep in shape, workout hard and the benifits will be so rewarding! The people who don't whine about being out of shape and are making a difference by going to the gym and doing physical activity plus eating the right foods with the right proportions, I encourage you 100%, for all you whiners and excuses, lets be friends and see at 70 years old what a different life us people who took care of themselves vs the other half!
Posted by: LM | Oct 4, 2021 6:36:25 PM
I was not bashing any skinny people. I was simply stating that having an eating disorder is just as bad as being obese. As for the brain fat. Yes I know this. The statement I made was that after your body has burned the fat in the body it starts on the fat in the brain. This is true. As for Stalone. If you watch the first rambo film. He talks perfectly normal. He suffered brain damage due to his extreme dieting and workouts. He admits to this fact. He talks about how he would be so disoriented that he couldn't remember how he got to the set. Whether he walked, drove, etc. I have been studying psychology since I was 11 and my best friend had an eating disorder. I know the affects it has on the brain. As for me being fat, or unhealthy. You've never seen me. I have a firm fit body. You obviously know nothing about farm work to suggest that I would not get my heart rate up doing this. It would be really funny if it wasn't so offensive. My measurements are 36 bust 27 waist, 37 hips. Not fat. My arms are not huge, and my thighs are muscular and fit. Nothing jiggles other than my breasts. I fit in a seat just fine. I eat 2 small meals a day, mostly veggies. Sorry but you are wrong. You seem to have a lot of anger towards me. I have done nothing to you perhaps you need to sit down and take a long look at where this anger stems from. As I said I have done nothing to deserve being attacked by you. I was simply making a point that society is very hard on young women (which it is) and that this can lead to eating disorders which cost the healthcare system. If they are taxing fat foods because they feel that it will discourage people from eating bad foods and therefore help the healthcare system, they also need to look at things from the other end of the spectrum as people eating disorder cost us too. I don't know how this could lead you attack me like you have.
Posted by: Shivangi | Oct 4, 2021 6:41:44 PM
THUMBS UP TO THE FAT TAX.
IF YOU WANT TO DIE FASTER, WHY NOT PAY SOME TAXES WHILE YOURE AT IT
Posted by: Steve B | Oct 4, 2021 7:34:23 PM
@ Fat people are lazy - I have a difficult time believing that you are a trainer. I have a difficult time believing that you are not here seeking some form of validation.
You chose a username that was directly offenseive and then went about attacking whomever posted something that you could Troll off of. That's not the actions of a personal fitness trainer, that's the action of a self loathing Troll.
The remark about Stallone is correct. When he was getting set for Rocky 4 he dropped to something like less than 2% body fat. He would eat one steamed vegetable per day and nothing but protein. It is also known that he had difficulty getting home after filming because he wouldn't remember if he drove, took a taxi, or whatever.
You have also remarked about achieving maximum heart rate in order to lose weight. This is also incorrect. Maximum heart rate is only needed to achieve maximum results via cardio. It is possible to lose body fat while increasing muscle without achieving maximum heart rate.
I enjoyed reading your rants. It's nice to know people are still able to cherry pick what data they want, to achieve the results that they desire. Saying that anorexia does not lead to brain damage suggests to me that you may have had personal experience with brain damage. That would explain your obsessive use of capital letters in your earlier posts. I would imagine that your care giver or local librarian is now helping you with typing these messages as your tone has changed, and is a lot more positive with a lot fewer caps.
Finally, before moving on to something more worthwhile, you mentioned eating a variety of veggies and some chicken or fish and then feeling full. Fat consumption is needed in order to feel full. Rabbit starvation actively demonstrates this (feel free to look it up). The body's ability to break fat into lipids is what tells you that you no longer need to eat. Suggesting that a fat free or low fat diet will help lose weight is stupid. It will only make you feel hungry. But since you are a trainer, I would imagine that you already know this and just made the mistake of speaking too soon. Or, you are an idiot who has to get a rise by calling people "fucktards" - clever use of conjuction btw, I would have never imagined it. Thanks for being original.
As for taxing fatty foods, please understand that fat in does not equal fat body. Fat in tells your body that you are full. Proof? Drink half a cup of gravy. You won't put on any signficant weight, but you won't be able to eat in about 15 minutes as the digestion completes and you are being actively told you have had enough fat.
If anything should be taxed, it should be HFCS/Glucose-Fructose. This is what has caused the present obesity situation, and is not actively addressed. Also, cellulose should not be allowed to be put in food. Cellulose is essentialy paper pulp - and yeah, it's pretty much in everything that we eat. Same with HFCS.
Search on YouTube for "Sugar - the bitter truth" and watch the whole thing. It's about an hour or so long, but it will change your outlook on weight and food. I cut HFCS out of my diet for two months and lost 20 pounds while still enjoying gravy and fatty foods. I didn't restrict my food intake or increase my exercise, I just removed the one substance that has been added to all processed foods over the last 40 years. Strangely this coincides with the timeframe of obesity increase.