According to this news story by CBS, junk food and fast food loaded with saturated fat and calories, are a huge contribution to American obesity. When consumers have less money to spend on food, they tend to resort to junk food and fast food because its cheaper. Mark Bittman, interviewed on the news story, raises the idea of adding a federal tax on all junk food and fast food. He brings up the idea that if we tax smoking because it is proven to be bad for us and bad for our health, it is only fair that the food we have proven time and time again is bad for us should be taxed as well. This idea of a junk food tax would hopefully shy away consumers because the foods they once bought simply because they were so cheap, will no longer buy them due to an increase in price. The easiest way to help Americans buy less junk food and fast food is to make it more expensive. It's plain, simple, and smart.
Resources:
(2011). Is it time to tax junk food?. (2011). [Web Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0dPU05pcwg
Cool points here. The video raises some good points about poor Americans and choice, so it would be a good idea to address those concerns.
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