This past week I saw a very interesting commercial on TV. It was a commercial against the proposition of placing a food tax on unhealthy food and beverage items like sodas and sugary drinks, and the actor playing a mother at a grocery store looked very proud to be purchasing a liter of regular soda for her family. This mother, with a cart full of food, was saying that she did not want the government telling her what to eat, implying that she could buy sugary drinks for her kids if that's what she wants to do.
I totally agree that individuals should have a choice in the food they chose to consume. However, as future dietitians and individuals interested in health and wellness, we are aware of the empty calories found in items like soda and sugary drinks. We are also aware of the link between consuming these items and the obesity epidemic. Obesity in this country is a major crisis and is responsible for a whole host of problems not only limited to rising medical costs and stress on the healthcare system and providers, but also diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and certain types of cancer.
I support the notion that every individual has a right to eat what he or she pleases; I am also pursuing a career as a dietitian and am interested in the health and wellbeing of society. And I can’t help but wonder if a tax on certain food items might possibly have an effect on deterring people from purchasing these items. Basically, this commercial really got me thinking. The tone of the commercial implied that this lady was very upset at the thought that the government would interfere with what is right or wrong for her to consume. All I can say is that cigarettes have always been taxed by the government, and taxes on them continue to rise. No one is telling you not to smoke, though the rising taxes seem to indicate that they wish they could tell you just that – stop smoking – without having to.
Would placing a tax on unhealthy food and beverages be a similar concept? No one is telling anyone what they can or cannot drink - just like no one is flat-out telling you that you can or cannot smoke - they are only including a tax as wishful thinking that a consumer might chose a healthy drink for their child. The government may want to tax these drinks, but they're not making them illegal... and that's a big difference. One is still free to consume soft drinks and give them to their children if they please. And furthermore, just as we know that smoking can lead to emphysema and lung cancer, we also know that an unhealthy diet that contributes to overweight and obesity has many health problems as well… Maybe a tax can be seen as encouragement for a healthier lifestyle.
However, I also dislike the idea of taxing food much for the same way that I hate taxes on cigarettes. People are going to do what they're going to do no matter what. I don’t know a single smoker who has quit due to recent tax increases. If anything, the stress of the economy makes them smoke more. But the reason why I dislike this idea of taxing food is that our profession of dietetics and health & wellness should be seen as something positive, not negative. We do not want to be labeled "the food police." I already hate when coworkers tip-toe around me at work and say "don't judge me based on what I'm eating." We should not have any negative connotations attached to our profession, and as nutrition professionals we should support healthy eating through counseling, dedication, and a decision to be healthier – not through a tax on bad food. We should remain positive and work on counseling individuals to make healthy choices for the right reasons. You have to want to be healthy - not forced or coerced into it because of monetary or governmental regulations.
So I’m not sure what the rest of you think… but this commercial raised a lot of questions for me and had me thinking a lot about what’s going on in this country in terms of bad eating habits and obesity. I’m not sure that taxing unhealthy food is the answer, but I can see how some might think it could help. However, with the way the economy has been over the last year, this might impact a lot of individuals who can only afford cheaper, unhealthier foods to feed their families. A lot of food for thought…
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