France 'fat tax'
- added August 6, 2008
- 76 responses
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- CHARMOSH
- added this
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- related topics
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- News and Politics (38349)
- Health (3995)
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- Obesity (201)
- Fat (88)
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- Overweight (35)
- Hamburgers (23)
- French Fries (7)
- Fat Pig (4)
France is considering plans to impose a "fat tax" by more than trebling the VAT on junk food to tackle soaring obesity levels.
Ministers are being urged by health experts to raise VAT from 5.5 to 19.6 per cent on all foods considered to be "too rich, too sweet, too salty and which are not strictly necessary".
The cost of pizzas, hamburgers, sandwiches, crisps, children's sweets and creamy coffees could soar as a result.
Although it is Europe's second slimmest nation after Italy, more than one in three people in France are overweight or obese and expanding waist lines have triggered a surge in heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer.
A panel of scientists also wants cigarette-style health warnings on packaging for fattening foods, and a ban on junk food advertising during children's television programmes.
Suggested wordings for warnings include: "For your health, eat at least five fruits and vegetables a day and undertake regular physical activity."
The recommendations will go before the French parliament this month, and could become law by next year.
However, experts acknowledge that "the least privileged sections of the population, who eat least well, could be most heavily penalised" by the tax increase.
A recent study found that of France's 63 million population, 19.8 million were overweight and 5.9 million of those were clinically obese.
It also found that there were 2.3 million more obese people than in 1987.
Europe's fattest nation is Greece, where 70 per cent of people are overweight, and 30 per cent are obese.
Britain has the second highest proportion of obese women at 25 per cent, compared with 22 per cent in Europe as a whole.
British men are Europe's fifth fattest, behind Germany, Greece, Finland and Ireland - 62 per cent of UK males are overweight and 20 per cent are obese, according a survey of 500,000 people across the EU.
A French health ministry spokesman said: "Just because we are among the least overweight in Europe, we have nothing to be complacent about. The figures show obesity is rising swiftly in France and other EU countries, and we want to take action now before it gets any more serious.
"We want people - and particularly young people - to cut back on the snacking and get back to healthy habits."
Ministers are being urged by health experts to raise VAT from 5.5 to 19.6 per cent on all foods considered to be "too rich, too sweet, too salty and which are not strictly necessary".
The cost of pizzas, hamburgers, sandwiches, crisps, children's sweets and creamy coffees could soar as a result.
Although it is Europe's second slimmest nation after Italy, more than one in three people in France are overweight or obese and expanding waist lines have triggered a surge in heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer.
A panel of scientists also wants cigarette-style health warnings on packaging for fattening foods, and a ban on junk food advertising during children's television programmes.
Suggested wordings for warnings include: "For your health, eat at least five fruits and vegetables a day and undertake regular physical activity."
The recommendations will go before the French parliament this month, and could become law by next year.
However, experts acknowledge that "the least privileged sections of the population, who eat least well, could be most heavily penalised" by the tax increase.
A recent study found that of France's 63 million population, 19.8 million were overweight and 5.9 million of those were clinically obese.
It also found that there were 2.3 million more obese people than in 1987.
Europe's fattest nation is Greece, where 70 per cent of people are overweight, and 30 per cent are obese.
Britain has the second highest proportion of obese women at 25 per cent, compared with 22 per cent in Europe as a whole.
British men are Europe's fifth fattest, behind Germany, Greece, Finland and Ireland - 62 per cent of UK males are overweight and 20 per cent are obese, according a survey of 500,000 people across the EU.
A French health ministry spokesman said: "Just because we are among the least overweight in Europe, we have nothing to be complacent about. The figures show obesity is rising swiftly in France and other EU countries, and we want to take action now before it gets any more serious.
"We want people - and particularly young people - to cut back on the snacking and get back to healthy habits."
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I love his idea almost as much as I love that photo.
"Get in my belly"-
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- joebrilliant
- 2 months ago
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i didnt know kids that big really existed.
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- taintedview
- 2 months ago
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1 in 3, eh?
What big, fat capitalist country does that remind me of?
Let me think. -
You know.. I don't really care about France because it's not my country. They can penalise their poor all they want..
Why can't we give the food to the mostly-starving countries..
oh well : ) -
any school official thinking of gettign rid of gym class or recess should read this story
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HAHAHAHAHAHah @ fat bastard picture....... and that is amazing.........i guess like anything ... taxes are the cure..... Right?
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Well, France has to think of ways pay for the rising costs of their socialized medical programs somehow, right?
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that picture hasn't been manipulated?
jeez. that kid's gonna have a heart attack at 15.-
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- stephenthomson
- 2 months ago
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So it's okay to be rich and fat? What kind of message does that send?
How about we create a tax on stupid people while we're at it?
That kid in the picture is just...well, he's a porker alright.-
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- damnneargenius
- 2 months ago
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At least they're taking steps into legalizing anti-fat laws. We're moving at a snail's pace.
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The companies that make medicine for obese people donate to a lot of our politicians, so we will never see shit like that here.
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it takes no more than 30 seconds to down a V8 and eat a banana , and a yogurt can be done in less than a minute . follow it up with a glass of non-fat milk ,an orange juice and a glass of water . this meal costs less than $2.00 and takes less time than it would to take a shit , and will sustain you for hours , so long as you keep drinking water . that simple . just one suggestion .
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That picture is hilarious and sad at the same time.
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Wow! that's great, I wish they'd done that when I was a kid, I feel guilty not eating fattening food.
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i just realized that if that kid in the picture does really exist... (i.e wasnt photoshopped).. he must feel like crap right now.. to be compared as a "problem" big enough..(pardon the pun) that a country has to impose a tax..... id get a kick out of this... (and not the fun kind)... id probably like get a massice lipo-suction... or do rocky-style workouts
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By the way, the kids in that photo are not French, they are American, and the photo doesn't stem from the article. Just sayin'.
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- Vierotchka
- 2 months ago
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I'm all for it. I bet i could even get a fat tax credit!!!
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- pablomelendez
- 2 months ago
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I wonder why communities in any country allow so many fast food franchises to be built. There are zoning regulations about bars, why not killer fast food?
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i think that's great...they took out two soda machines at my high school this summer and replaced them with water/gatorade machines which adds to the fact that you have to have change instead of dollars to get into the ordinary ones...so as much as people bitch at class and as much as i'm sure they might in France...it's really for the best
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that kid looks like a tick about to pop. the parents should be sued for negligence.
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- stephenthomson
- 1 month ago
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Nothing like the government dictating what people should and shouldn't eat.
What's next? What they think? -
hahahaha fatty cant afford his cheeseburgers. now he has to stick to cellery
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- resin_lungs420
- 1 month ago
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A fat tax is a disgusting idea. you can't boss people's lives around like this.
Stop nannying people.
You want us fat, watching our football and pop idle shows, chomping on pringles arguing if Jade is a racist cunt or not rather than paying attention to what you do in parliament.
I cannot believe anyone could support this.-
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- Owwmykneecap
- 1 month ago
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Smart idea!
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- iokua_2003
- 1 month ago
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We could balance the national budget in a week if we imposed a fat tax in the US.
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I think it is a great way to combat obesity. It is like the "kill two birds with one stone".
It can prevent people from being unhealthy and provide help pay for the unhealthy's health care.-
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- kaecvtionr
- 1 month ago
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Looks like our Western eating habits have spread to Europe. If people would eat less meat and dairy and would be more active they would be okay.
It's weird, how long ago, the poor were eating healthier because they couldn't afford as much meat and dairy. The rich were the fat ones. Look at all the historical paintings. :P Along with being obese came the diseases of affluence (heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer).
Here in NYC, I have noticed that a lot of the fast food places have to put calories next to menu items. At least it's a start. It's funny observing people at Chipotle thinking they are eating a healthy meal. Then they see those calories. The expressions are priceless. I don't understand how people think it's healthy with the amount of cheese and sour cream they put in their burritos. Oh wait, they use free-range chicken, beef, and pork in food. People see organic and free-range and they think they are eating a healthy meal.
I think education is the key. I mean there is always going to be some BS marketing to convince people that what they are eating is healthy. Warning labels might help. It doesn't really seem to work on cigarettes here in the states. You have to buy the item before you can read the warning. Taxing the people? I'm not sure about that one either. I think Taxing the fast food places sounds better. This pressures them to maybe come up with a healthy alternative for their product, instead of profiting off of peoples lack of knowledge, self control, or just plain stupidity.
Too tired to finish or proof read. I hope it makes sense in the morning. -
Social engineering has proven itself fruitless. All puns intended.
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aww come on! you mean the quadruple patty cheese melt is going to cost even more! better off buying the lard in bulk just to save money..
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- pocketNinja
- 1 month ago
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p.s. this whole propoghanda about how it will be affecting the poor?
piss off!
like the very smart individual at the top had stated very nicely, you can drink a cup of milk, eat a banana, some yogurt, and even a hand full of granola for energy to last for several hours, i know because thats what i survive off for lunch many days.
i am sick of the victim mentality people use to justify such grotesque behaviors.
and the kicker? people teach this victim mentality to their kids..
mmm yummy.. pass the mayo.. and the lard bucket puhleeeeze!-
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- pocketNinja
- 1 month ago
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If I lived in France, I'd have no idea what to do with all the taxes for all the services they offer. I guess this is just a consumption tax, but at the same time, I feel bad for the skinny French who just want to indulge every once in a while.
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What a great idea. I love it. It should be implemented in every country that is experiencing the obesity epidemic.
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It's about time someone took care of this big, fat problem!
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- TrendLover
- 1 month ago
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WOW! That boy in the photo is unbelievably Michelin-Tire-Mannish for his age. He has to be all of 10 years.
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look closley friends, this little boy is wearing a Nascar style hat, he is clearly american.......god bless it!!!!
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think about it in none 3rd world countries the poor are fat and the wealthy are skinny. the elite stay elite with there diet and get fat in the wallet off the pain of the poor.
also is it just me or does it make you mad when you see a grossly obese person take a handicap spot because they cant walk anymore and have destroyed they body so much they need a walker or wheel chair.
PUT DOWN THE DONUT DUMB DUMB-
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- joeythetank
- 1 month ago
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this is a great idea!
i'm totally up for this in my country.
we need it worse than europe. lol.
actually, i live in the fattest state of the fattest country.
and it's really hard for kids not to be swayed towards junk food here. many schools, even elementary schools, have soda machines and junk food machines with chips and cookies. it's terrible, heartbreaking, and gross.
woo! go France! -
that kid is really fat, almost annoyingly to fat.
