CorpComms Magazine

There's going to be a tax on fat in Denmark? What is the world coming to?

That's right. Denmark is the first country in the world to put a fat tax in place on foods that are high in saturated fat. The tax came into effect on 1 October.

So cheese, pizza, and processed foods are off the menu then?

Not off the menu as such, just more pricey than before.

And what does Denmark hope to achieve?

The aim is to reduce the amount of fatty foods that people eat, which they hope will increase life expectancy by three years by 2021. The Danes currently have an average life expectancy of 79 years.

How much tax will people have to pay?

The tax is set at 16 kroner per kilogram, which is equivalent to £1.85.

From what I've heard, the tax is a bit confusing.

It certainly is. The tax is based on the amount of fat used in the process of making the food, rather than the fat content of the final product.

Whose idea was this fat tax?

Denmark's health minister, Jakob Axel Nielsen, introduced the idea of a fat tax back in 2009, when he warned that saturated fats can cause cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Would it not be more beneficial to educate Danish citizens on healthy living, rather than just increase the prices?

Perhaps, but the tax provides a quick-fix solution.

So how much fat do they consider to be too much? We have to have some in our diet!

The tax is applicable to foods that have a saturated fat content of more than 2.3 per cent.

Haven't they already imposed a ban on a different kind of fat?

Yes, Denmark prohibits the use of trans fats.

What are trans fats?

They are a particularly bad type of fat because they increase bad cholesterol while also reducing good cholesterol at the same time.

What else is Denmark doing to better the health of its citizens?

There is a higher charge now on tobacco, alcohol products and soft drinks. So they really are tackling the country's health habits full on.

How have the Danes reacted?

Well let's just say the store shelves were emptied as the public hoarded the taxable products before the new tax came into effect.

share me: del.icio.us | digg | reddit | Tweet