News and Opinion
There are stories relating to obesity breaking around the world every day. The stories below are those where journalists haver sought NOF opnion/quotes or summaries of research on which NOF may have a view. Where possible the source of the stories are identified by the newspaper banner or a URL in red.
NOF Opinion will always be identified in italics.
The Cameron fat tax diet
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 09 October 2011
A full page in the SUNDAY TIMES summarises the first week of reaction since the Prime Minister announced that the UK might consider following the Danes by slapping a tax on foods that contain more that 2.3% of saturated fat [see below]. The page identifies a number of other countries who are already imposing, or considering the imposition, of similar taxes. It reports the " popular " views of Oldham where the Council wants to put a £1000 surcharge on fast food restaurants and, finally, summarises the views of a number of obesity specialists.
The newspaper states that the National Obesity Forum is " surprisingly uneasy " about the prospect of a fat tax. It shouldn't be. The Forum has been frequently quoted in favour of a tax but would certainly be " uneasy " if the junk food that is to be taxed disadvantages the millions of poorer households who depend on it.