Read My Lips
04/09/2010A friend of mine brought up the possible “Snack Tax” today, looking for some thoughts on it. My immediate reaction: Use obesity as a scapegoat to tax items that are made to be cheap because of government subsidies, then offering a foggy definition of what constitutes junk food? No thanks.
I later did a quick search to see what information I could come up with relating to the possible tax. Most of the information I found pegged soda and pizza. Soda, I get, pizza, I don’t. What if it’s whole-grain, unbleached flour, heart-healthy olive oil, fresh tomatoes, low-fat cheese, loaded with vegetables good-for-you fare? Is it still junk? And if factors such as high-fat are used to define what snacks make the cut, will nuts be taxed? There are too many variables for lobbyists to even know where to begin.
Even in our industry, vendors are seeking to provide healthier options for customers, but would they be healthy enough to make the grade, and will it be worth stocking a candy bar or soda if you have to add another $1 to the price. Sounds like disaster to me.
I’m all for offering healthful alternatives to the over-processed foods on which this country has become heavily reliant. Ever look at the ingredients on a loaf of bread? The plain white bleached flour, high-fructose corn syrup breads can be purchased for under $1, but look for whole grain without any high-fructose anything, and you’re looking at darned near $4. That being said, why not level the playing field, or skew it in a different direction, by subsidizing, say…oranges or lettuce? Make it more affordable to eat well, instead of taxing the junk that is cheap now.
christine.papesch@veii.com
