Denmark Taxes Fatty Foods

Last weekend, Denmark put a new tax into effect that will increase the prices of fatty foods in hopes of reducing the nation’s obesity and disease rates. Hamburgers, butter, and potato chips are just a few of the items that will be affected by the “fat tax,” which is intended to cut obesity and heart disease rates and increase the country’s average life expectancy by three years over the next decade. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 13.4 percent of the Danish population is obese, compared with 33.8 percent of Americans. Last month, Hungary put a similar measure into effect, increasing taxes on foods high in saturated fats, sugar, and salt in hopes of reducing health care costs.