Is soda the new tobacco? That is what I was wondering after I read Mark Bittman’s op-ed piece (Bad Food? Tax It) in yesterday’s New York Times. In his article (which I tweeted several times) Bittman suggested taxing soda and subsidizing vegetables. Not such a bad idea, right?
Wait a minute. There will be loads of people who vehemently object to Bittman’s proposed soda tax. Why? They will claim that we are creating a nanny state. They will argue that the process of determining which foods are healthy and which are not is too complicated and subjective. Bittman however, has sound comebacks for each argument that the critics throw his way.
Bittman’s points are compelling, here are just a couple:
- because of subsidies to industrial agriculture fruit is more expensive than Froot Loops
- one-third of Americans either have diabetes or are pre-diabetic
- a sane diet could save billions of dollars in health care costs
Bittman has plenty of solutions for the spiraling healthcare costs associated with the Standard American Diet (SAD). He talks about spending revenues from a soda tax on local gyms and to pollinate food deserts. He also notes that for the first time in our history, “lifestyle” (preventable) diseases, will kill more people than communicable ones.”
Finally, Bittman drives his point home when discussing the historic ramifications of the implementation of the tobacco tax, noting that since its institution just over three decades ago, smoking has declined by more than half.
What are your thoughts on the soda tax? Leave a comment and let’s discuss this controversial issue.
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Tabitha Teeter says
@Jay in BC-
Do people with special needs (allergies/Celiac) get an exclusion for these taxes? I take supplements, use ingredients like nuts, chocolate, raisins, maple syrup, etc. If I were in BC would I be taxed more for eating grain free/dairy free and homemade foods?
——-
“I’m in British Columbia. Any “foods” considered junk, soda pop, candies & confectionery items(including, chocolates,nuts, raisins, and those coated with candy, chocolate, syrup, etc) Snack foods, dietary supplements where health claims are made…”
Jay says
Tabitha
Only nuts & raisins that are considered a confectionary, as in coated with chocolate or candy coating, or packaged & treated with salt, sugars etc, for snacking on, are taxed. Plain nuts, raw, in the shell, unshelled, all baking nuts & baking peanuts are tax exempt. As for chocolate, if its baking chocolate, chocolate chips, slabs of chocolate, its tax exempt, but chocolate bars or chocolate confectionaries, as in a box of chocolates, are taxed.
Gluten free products (which we have a good variety of) are tax free, as well as all gluten free flours & baking mixes. Vitamins & supplements within the last 1 1/2 yrs, are now a taxable item here.
Basically, if a food item is in its closest natural state, or if it’s for baking or cooking a meal, it is not taxable. If it’s packaged up or junked up like chips, dips, candy coated anything, pop, half juice half sugar drinks, its taxable.
Tabitha Teeter says
No, thanks. I wish this would work out well since my husband might decide soda isn’t worth drinking anymore. BUT until government subsidizes food rather than ethanol (corn), soy, cottonseed and industrial crud, I don’t trust them. This is the same government (FDA) telling Diamond Foods walnuts are drugs and subject to FDA regulation.
Theresa says
that is so true!
Kimberley says
I’m English and I wish our government would implement an idea like this. I grew up in the country surrounded by farmland and yet at my local shop fizzy drinks and sweets, pound for pound, still cost less than vegetables . It makes me ill to think I could get a pizza tonight for less than the cost of the ingredients of the salad I’ll be having instead. I’m effectively being forced to choose between being healthy and poor or wealthy and ill. There’s something inherently wrong about that.
Theresa says
And that is the problem – industrial farming is considered farming, which it is NOT. If we could truly tax highly processed junk only, and subsidize organic ‘real’ farm food, then there might be some headway. But that is not what will happen. What is considered “healthy” by the government and industry, will continue to be highly processed, low fat junk, because that is where the largest profits are.
Betsy says
I absolutely disagree with government involvement on regulating what we can and can’t eat. Where will it end? There are doctors today that don’t believe the fruit we eat today is healthy as it’s way too sweet. I personally rarely eat organic berries and make a batch of ginger cookies with yacon a couple times a year. I feel healthier eating this way but would not deny anyone there agave, honey, maple syrup, corn syrup or fruit! Sugar is sugar.
Jay says
To the commentors who want your government to stay out of your kitchen. A word of advice. Be careful of what you wish for.
I live in Canada where basic groceries, dairy especially, are expensive. I can, if I wish to drive an hour and a half,(plus wait another hour to two hours in a car line-up, at times,) cross the border into the US, and buy my groceries in Bellingham.
A short comparison between my usual food item costs, and what my food item costs are if I shop in the US.
A 4 litre jug of milk here, $4.93. Across the border, $2.99.
A pound of unsalted butter, $5.69. Across the border, $3.69.
A dozen large eggs, $2.89-$3.49. Across the border, $1.89.
A two pound block of cheese $16.25. (yes that’s correct) across the border, $4.99.
A 1 1/2 Kilo bag of frozen chix breasts, $13.00 – 15.00, across the border, $6.99.
If I shopped in the US instead of home on a regular basis, I could very well, save up to $100-$125 a week on my grocery bill, but still do most of my food shopping at home.
So to all you who are saying keep the goverment out of our lives/kitchens, let us be in control of food prices. You might want to do some research on that, before you jump the gun. Believe it or not, the majority of the US has reasonable pricing on food. One only needs to move to my Canadian city for a year, to find that is very true.
Stephanie says
I am not sure about how Canada’s food system operates, but one guess would be you have more government involvement, not less, based on most other things I know about Canada. I have heard of something about agricultural marketing boards, how they make food prices higher North of the border.
Leah says
The problem with your logic is that we already pay for our ‘cheap’ groceries. Where do you think the government gets money for subsidies? Out of our paychecks. I would rather the government not choose what industries deserve my money just so that groceries can appear cheaper. And before you argue that your taxes are higher than ours: that’s because you benefit from other socialist programs that don’t exist in the states.
Jay says
My logic or point of being careful of what you with for, was not to mock your “cheap groceries”. My goodness, if I visit the states I’m all for your lower food prices, and do stock up on what I’m allowed to bring back to Canada. Especially cheese!
What I was trying to get across was be careful what wish for requarding your government, as maybe they’ll decide to get thier mitts into your dairy, egg, and poultry industries as well..
Jenn R. says
I live in the US, and I generally pay about what you’re paying in Canada for my foods. BUT – I choose to pay those prices for local/pastured no antibiotic raised meats, dairy and organic veggies. I primarily shop at local farmer’s markets to find the best choices, environmentally and nutritionally.
Jay says
I also choose to buy my fruits and veggies at our local farmers market or our nearby farms. On average, I spend 45-65 dollars a week on fruits and veggies for two people. This past weekend with family coming to visit, my produce bill alone was $104. I don’t buy produce in a grocery store except for the rare times they bring in a local farms produce.
I worked for a major grocery chain for 26 yrs and know that the majority of the produce my store as well as the other grocery chains in my city stock, are imported from the US, and elsewhere. Very little is brought in locally until the fall when the apple season begins.
Although it costs more money, and as long as I/we can afford it, we will do our best to support our local farmers market, and local farms.
Deanna Askin says
Elana triggered some thoughts of my own and I put them together in this blog post. http://stuffifeedbrian.blogspot.com/2011/07/thoughts-on-cleaning-up-our-food-system.html. I think we really can find a middle ground between Big Brother and corporations carelessly poisoning our food system.
Jenn R. says
I might be able to get behind the “sugar” tax, but once we set a precident for taxing “bad” food, then we have to have an expert debate on what is “bad.” Right now, the government isn’t doing a very good job with identifying “bad” food. They subsidize corn, wheat, and soybeans, but vilify saturated fat. No thanks. Better to stay completely out of the food business. Eliminate subsidies completely, reinstitute home-economics classes in high schools – you know, where you learned to cook – and make sure people understand where their food comes from. The closer to the hoof, pasture, orchard, and veggie patch we can eat, the healther we are all going to be.
jodie says
Fascinating! I could really rally behind this one!
Jami Fynboh says
I am totally against any MORE government involvment! Stay out of people’s lives and choices! This America…once upon a time that stood for taking personal responsibility for our own personal choices, slowly but surely that has been replaced with the government taking over!
Victoria says
Wow. There is a lot of passion generated from this topic. I don’t really get the outrage but then again perhaps it is because I am a young parent disgusted by the fast/fake food menus and sugary drinks masquerading as kids menus in restaurants and cafeterias. I am all for taxing or funding any way to encourage more economically feasible healthy choices. Where is the real outrage for the lack of true supervision over our food supply? You all feel free to gripe about how your taxes aren’t well spent but that isn’t exactly going spur positive change. If there are better ways to change how our society eats and how we can get the public to look more closely at the food they select, I am all ears.
Leah says
The outrage is from people who, while they agree that soda is not healthy and is causing harm to people’s health, know that the government will not stop at soda. You are happy to let the government tax soda because it agrees with your ideology, but how will you feel when the government starts taxing butter? Eggs? Red meat? (Insert a food that you find healthy but the government may classify as “heart attack on a plate” here)? Whether you agree with the fact that soda is unhealthy or not (which I think we all agree it is) is not the point. The point is that it’s outside the state’s power to impose lifestyle choices on people via taxation.
AnnMarie Deis says
@Leah, I LOVE your ideology and I agree with you 100 percent!!!!! :)
AnnMarie Deis says
The real outrage, for me, is that we have supposed “officials” to watch over our food supply, yet e. coli has been found in countless foods, arsenic in chicken supply, and who knows what new-fangled chemical concoction is sprayed on our precious vegetables and fruits! I am looking out for my food supply because I am making that choice. I am really astounded here to hear so many people apparently leaving their food safety and choices up to other people. I am wondering when we will begin to take responsibility for what we eat. Empowerment!!!
Jay says
If you didn’t have those “officials” checking the foods you and your family consume, many more people would be sick with e-coli, salmonella, or dead. The “officials” may not be perfect, they may not find every million or so bacteria, or ilegally used chemical sprays by farmers,(how could they be when theres not enough of them hired to take on such a large task?) The one thing they do have going for them that you do not have, is knowledge about what they do. The internet that most garner their so called wise thinking, is not a university, it is not a college, it is not a school where a person learns how to be whatever they strive to be. The internet is a cyberworld of other peoples opinions only.
Honestly. The holier than thou, I will never trust anyone but myself to judge a food or product as safe, are the ones who end up screaming the loudest when one of there own becomes ill or hurt from that ill informed judgement.