A Taste of Wellness for Savoury and Snacks
Givaudan
Nearly two-thirds of readers (64.2 percent) thought soda tax was not a good idea, with nearly a quarter saying they thought it was a "government cash-grab".
Meanwhile, the most common response from those who said they supported the idea of a soda tax, chosen by nearly one in five (18.4 percent) respondents, was that it was just part of a range of solutions for tackling obesity.
3 comments (Comments are now closed)
the simplest economics
when something costs more, less is consumed. this will help the obesity epidemic because people will consume less soda. the question becomes, how much less will be consumed and how much will it help? higher priced soda will make healthier beverages more competitive and more appealing to the average consumer.
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Posted by elp
05 July 2011 | 19h37
Soda Tax Dumb Idea
Just another way for the government to legislate behavior and it won't help solve our obesity problem anyhow. Our problem as a society is that we eat way too much of everything and don't exercise enough or at all. It really is simple math - take in more calories than is needed to maintain your weight and you will gain pounds over time. Eat less and/or burn the extra calories and you will maintain your weight or slowly lose pounds.
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Posted by Jack
05 July 2011 | 18h24
Soda tax won't woo consumers
Without a soda tax on refined sugar, the impetus to usher in stevia-based sweeteners has soured. Stevia is not just a sweet-tasting alternative to cane sugar. It is unlike any and all other artificial sweeteners. It may (I said "may") reduce the risk for diabesity. However, to buy into the idea of taxes on foods is to open the door to greater government control. It would be nice to just have consumers make choices and begin campaigns to educate the public, but this is more than advertising for Diet-Rite Cola. Stevia is not quite ready for a big rollout because it has a licorice-like after-taste. Nearly pure Rabaudioside-A extracts offer the sweetness without the after-taste. New brands of stevia-based products are popping up, but are not likely to survive. The big cola makers have to adopt it and they have to be forced by regulations and they don't like the slightly increased cost. Cheap refined high fructose corn syrup sugar has certainly helped promote the plague of diabesity upon America, being preceded by white bread and hydrogenated fats. High fructose corn syrup was invented by the USDA as a cheap sugar to help American corn farmers. And just to think, Vernor's ginger ale was sweetened with stevia for decades and the FDA forced its removal from that product. Bottom line, you can tax, but you can't force the public to swallow sodas with an undesirable after taste.
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Posted by Bill Sardi
05 July 2011 | 16h20