Food Industry Group welcomes Danish Fat Tax Decision

The decision by the Danish Government to rescind that country’s ‘fat tax’ is an enlightened one says Lindsay Mouat, Chairman of the Food Industry Group (FIG).

“Taxes on so-called unhealthy foods are an increasing threat from politicians keen to regulate as a solution to complex social issues,” he said. “The removal of the Danish tax, which lasted just a year, together with the cancellation of a planned sugar tax demonstrates the failure of such thinking”.

The reality was that the fat tax and the extension of the chocolate tax - the so-called sugar tax - was criticised for increasing prices for consumers, increasing administrative costs and putting jobs at risk. There was even a surge in cross-border shopping to avoid the tax.

Dealing with obesity requires all sectors to collaborate, Government, industry and professionals with progressive changes to overall diets and exercise, not punitive measures which frustrate the community.
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