Burger burden: UN proposes junk food tax

Published time: March 11, 2012 12:21
Edited time: March 11, 2012 16:23
(Reuters / Finbarr O'Reilly)

“Junk food” should attract additional taxes, says the report from the United Nations Organization.

Such a “sin tax” should be introduced for all kinds of snacks, sodas and hamburgers in all parts of the world to help the estimated billion people who suffer from undernourishment, as well as another billion who remain overweight or obese, the UN insists.

“Urbanization, ‘supermarketization’, and the global spread of Western lifestyles have shaken up traditional food habits. The result is a public health disaster,” said Olivier De Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, as he presented his latest report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

A 10% tax on non-alcoholic drinks that undermine health would result in an 8%-10% cut in their consumption, the UN report calculates. The revenues from those payments could be used to promote fruit and vegetables, while advertisements for harmful products could be ceased all together, the organization suggests.

The idea of a tax for junk food has already been realized in several US states, with the fans of chips and hamburgers being charged extra across the whole country. In Europe, Denmark was a pioneer, with fattening fast foods falling victim to an additional €2.15 surcharge in autumn last year.

Finland followed suit shortly afterwards, charging lovers of chocolate and cola. And Hungary, where the number of fat people is one of the highest in Europe, also introduced a so- called “tax on chips” back in 2011. Tax revenues there are spent on healthcare.

In France sweet non-alcoholic drinks have been taxed since the beginning of 2012. The move is expected to reap around €280 million annually.

Though creating extra budget revenues, the overall economic effect of the move remains complex. In Hungary, for example, the “tax on chips” cut revenues of medium and huge producers of “junk food” by almost 30%, says the Federation of Hungarian Food Industries, FOSZ. Also, some international food producers decided to invest elsewhere, with Chio, a global chips producer, redirecting its money to France, RBC says.

On a positive note, the “tax on chips” is expected to bring additional €100 million to the Hungary’s budget.

Comments (4)

James J (unregistered) 22.01.2013 12:55

"Sin Tax"? Who collects this tax? GOD? Or is this just another scenario where Government thinks it is God?

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RadovanValasek 31.03.2012 10:25

CZECH USURY – FOOD; Jewish religion strictly restricts frying meals!!! For that reason just now is worldwide campaign against frying potatoes chips and for high taxation of ones in the first instance. In recent times doctors and lots of other people want let people are losing their body weight to be morbidly slim.  Briefly: Jews publicly want let everybody is as morbidly slim as Jews.  Everybody who is not as morbidly slim as Jews has been publicly ashamed.  In recent times some European countries put levy on some food because ones have had declared as unhealthy.  It is again consequence of activities of Orthodox Jews.  It would be very interesting compare list of food restricted in an Orthodox Judaism, list of food which Jews had restricted to buy during Nazi Germany and list of food which are on the list of food for high taxation in recent times. We should believe in experience of our ancient ancestors.  They considered the most valuable foods beef meat, eggs, milk and honey.  But in recent era media teach people to eat vegetable and cereals.  It is again just in reverse!  Where people take a fat to build a brain if they eat just vegetable and cereals?  Food fold just from vegetable and cereals are going to damage a brain!  Only defective adults have metabolism as little children and therefore they cannot eat valuable food, cannot smoke and drink. In recent era Jews through media propaganda create feel of guilt in everybody who is not physically or mentally defective, who is not stupid enough, who do not take drugs, in everybody who eat meat, milk, eggs and honey, in everybody who has a big body and is not as morbidly slim as Jews, in everybody who smoke and drink.  Creating feel of guilt is important part of a brainwashing.  Recent propaganda is very similar to methods of Nazi chief of propaganda Joseph Goebbels.  Joseph Goebbels was, of course, managed by Jews. In recent times in France (2012 year) even some people want let pupils are giving marks at school according their low body weight!  Assessment according a shape of body and skull did Nazis.Higher tax on selected food is definitely consequence of Jewish religious extremism.  Next time maybe will come Jewish tax on garlic.

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Phantom 12.03.2012 06:03

They don't give a damned about weight.  They just want your money.  How is taxing junk food gonna curb fatties from buying their treats?  
Don't let the politicians fool you to believe they care about you while their hands are reaching in pockets.
Higher taxes, for what ever reason, is always about stealing from you and your family.

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