Junk-Food Taxes Should Be Raised

When we consider the scientifically proven and substantial impact that so-called junk-food has on our bodies, higher taxes on these kinds of foods must appear to be legitimate. Many studies have shown that a diet high in junk-food staples like saturated fat, sugar, and salt clearly increases the risk of obtaining health problems such as obesity, cardio-vascular disease and diabetes. To enable governments to fight battles like these; against global, multi-billion food corporations, tax regulations would be a useful and important tool.

That food items such as hamburgers, French fries and pizzas, prepared in the usual way of fast-food joints, are bad for us is a generally accepted truth—hence the term “junk-food”. However, this massive industry’s vast financial assets and extensive output of commercials, advertisements and political lobbying makes it increasingly difficult for consumers to make independent choices for themselves regarding consumption of junk-food. To have taxes raised on these types of food, where a certain criteria of nutrition are not met, would function as a counterweight to the great financial resources possessed by the giants in the fast-food industry. To increase nutritional values would become economically beneficial to food providers, unlike today, when the margin of profit is a lot higher with cheap, low-quality food. The money raised due to the higher taxes could, for example, be used by governments in different efforts of creating awareness of health dangers with junk-food consumption.

We already accept high taxes on other health degenerating substances, e.g. tobacco and alcohol, so why should not junk-food also become subject of this? The negative effects of exaggerated use are comparable to those of alcohol in terms of heart problems, deterioration of inner organs and, as many scientists claim, even addiction. It is also possible that a large intake of junk-food could greatly up the chances of contracting cancer. With health issues as serious as these; it is vital to impose proper regulations and taxes onto these products. To pack a food item full of sugar to make it taste good and be addictive, then fill it with dangerous saturated fats to make it last longer and have a certain consistency, should not be an acceptable. It is important for governments to take a stand on this issue and show that effects of junk-food are real and should be taken seriously.

One could argue that junk-food fills a function in modern society due to its short preparation time and low price. However, the consequences of frequent intake of junk-food are in the long run far too serious to justify letting the fast-food chains run without any control or regulations. Junk-food is by definition poor in both nutrition and quality and is therefore possible to produce and sell at very cheap rates. A lack of money is often stated as the biggest reason to why people choose to buy junk-food instead of investing in good, wholesome foods. This is an important reason to why raised taxes on junk food would be an effective way of decreasing people’s consumption of it. For example, raising prices in supermarkets on items such as microwave pizzas, while lowering them on healthy items such fresh fruits and vegetables, could really impact people’s decision-making when going grocery shopping.

To try to make it less profitable for large corporations to mass-produce food that causes people to have health problems should be a given for political leaders. The general public does not gain from the junk-food industry; instead we are hooked in self-destructive habits of consuming food which does not provide us with sufficient nutrients and harms us if we over use it. Since the forces at work in promoting junk-food are so strong, governments need to step in and impose actions where they will have the biggest impact—in this case by making it less convenient for companies to continue on with producing low-quality, low-priced food and sell it to people who does not truly understand the negative effects of it. Higher taxes on junk-food would be a step in the right direction when it comes to trying to convince people of going for better, healthier food options.

//Jenny