CAPSULE COMMENTARY: “Fat Taxes”

“Last week, the USDA and Department of Health and Human Services sponsored a National Nutrition Summit in Washington, DC to address the ‘obesity epidemic’ threatening our nation. These government departments and several powerful interest groups, such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest, discussed the merits of imposing taxes on fatty foods, mandatory warning labels on menus, and waging media campaigns to discourage the consumption of normal restaurant foods like french fries. The proposed ‘fat tax’ is no different from the current ‘sin taxes’ on alcohol and tobacco. The government is under the impression that taxation and regulation of unhealthy products, as well as government re-education, will save people from their ignorance or mistakes. The USDA’s Dr. Rajen Anand believes, ‘People don’t have the knowledge or willpower to select the right kind of food.’ Where do we draw the line? KFC may only legally fry their chicken if it gives the government three cents for every thigh it sells? Baskin Robbins being required to advise you that eating an ice cream cone might make you a little bit fatter? ‘Pizza Can Kill You’ commercials all over the airwaves? It’s time the government trim its own waste line and get out of the American diet.”