Denmark introduced a "fat tax" - basically, increasing the cost of trans-fats laden processed food or "junk". I prefer to think that rather than punish people for poor choices, probably made out of ignorance, we should
reward choices that benefit individual health AND public coffers in the long term! How?
* Less diabetes and related problems = less demand on public/private hospitals for one
I think
Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden program is an ideal way to introduce the idea of wholefoods and the fact that food has a beginning, middle and end. As with most successful changes, it takes time and
education. I look forward to seeing whether the
ANPHA, (Australian National Preventive Health Agency) established in January 2011, can effectively institute some changes that count for all Australians (hopefully something a bit more meaningful than the "
swap it don't stop it" campaign...really).