Kerala: The doctors and several parents have expressed delight over the imposition of the 14.5 per cent ‘fat tax’ by Kerala government on pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and tacos sold through branded outlets, with an aim to promote healthy eating. It is felt that while the ‘fat tax’ may not stop children from eating junk food altogether, there will definitely be a drop in consumption. Kerala has also levied a 5 per cent tax on packaged wheat products like atta, maida, suji, rava and packaged basmati rice. The move has been hailed as an important public health measure.
“Fat tax will help to decrease the consumption of food that are linked to Obesity. Research indicates that the current obesity epidemic is increasing as a result of the fast food industry expanding. Junk food outlets are changing the dietary habits of society, pushing out traditional restaurants and leading to the detrimental health effects of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Taxes on tobacco have seen smoking rates decrease, and as a result there have been calls for fat taxes to be implemented in more countries in an attempt to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods,” says Radhika Sijesh from USA.
“The fat tax shall temporarily help reduce the consumption. However, people who want to consume would anyhow do that and eventually get used to the tax, I believe. However, its implementation in my city on an experimental basis wouldn’t be bad either,” feels Nilanjana Deb from Bangalore.
However, there are a few citizens who feel that such a move may not help in promoting healthy eating. “Increasing the percentage of value added tax levied on junk food will not reduce its consumption. A plausible comparison could be made to the sale of cigarettes. Whatever be the price or size of the warning image on the packet, people still consume it and not to mention the ever increasing number of youth who get into the habit of smoking. I personally feel that this idea will not work out and increasing the taxes will not make a difference,” opines Suvithra Uthayakumar from Chennai.