Events & Issues

New Delhi, 21 July 2016

Kerala’s Fat Tax

JUNK IS OUT, HEALTHY IN

By Dhurjati Mukherjee

Kerala has shown the way, and how! It has introduced a 14.5 per cent ‘fat’ tax. Primarily, to fight consumption on ‘junk’ food: pizzas, burgers, tacos, chips and, of course, sugar.

Predictably, industry circles, including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) were up in arms calling this discriminatory, obviously because as consumption of fast food and sugar products decreases so do their balance sheets. 

Undoubtedly, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s Communist Government has taken a bold stand against the backdrop of the quantum increase in diabetes and obesity in the country.

True, many countries, cities and even municipalities have tried imposing what the West calls a sugar tax or soda tax but with mixed results. Denmark, Japan, Mexico and USA among other nations have tried to change consumer behaviour through taxes notwithstanding monitoring and enforcement these have proved to be somewhat difficult. 

Interestingly, according to a new study by Australia’s Queensland University of Technology, people who are addicted to sugar should be treated in the same way as drug abusers. As excess sugar consumption contributes directly to weight gain.

Also, it has “been shown to repeatedly elevate dopamine levels which control the brain’s reward and pleasure centres in a way which is similar to many drugs of abuse, including tobacco, cocaine and morphine”. The report found that apart from weight gain, sugar consumption might also result in neurological and psychiatric consequences thereby affecting mood and motivation.  

This is not all. The study further stated that “the US FDA approved drugs like varenicline, a prescription medication trading as Champix, which treats nicotine addicts could work the same way when it came to sugar cravings.

Undeniably, the situation is steadily becoming critical as shown by World Health Organization (WHO) figures. Shockingly, over 1.9 billion people world-wide are over-weight and 600 considered obese.  Consequently, doctors and health workers the world over are crying for less fat consumption.

Obviously, the real demon is sugar and sugar products including soft drinks. These have trashed our diets and made us not just over-weight and obese but also increased other diseases.

Certainly, the Kerala Government’s decision is no doubt well intentioned and in the right direction. As there is an imperative need to control consumption of fast food and sugar which are exceedingly harmful.

Thus, the Central and State Governments would be correct in taking action against ‘garbage food dispensers’ who have not only invaded the market but have also become a threat to health, especially of the youth and younger generation.

There is no gainsaying, the battle against the bulge would essentially begin from Kerala’s farms which is now the second largest sugar producer --- nearly 30 million tonnes --- wherein over the last decade the figure has nearly doubled thanks to Government subsidy and support for a crop which sucks water from the ground and health from our bodies.

In fact, the subsidy component should immediately be stopped and farmers should be encouraged to go in for coarse grains such as ragi (finger millets), bajra (pearl millet), jowar (sorghum), all of which enjoy import prospects in western markets.

Hence, it is imperative we change our food habits right away. Especially against the backdrop of increasing diabetes coupled with a poor control rate which poses a big threat in the country. Scandalously, India is called the world’s Diabetes Capital which clearly underscores that our people’s food habits are possibly the worst.

Presently the country’s diabetes population is pegged at 70 million – the second highest world-wide after China. Moreover, according to a WHO prediction India’s diabetes burden would go up to 101.2 million in the next 15 years.

However, a recent All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) comprehensive study and other such institutions points out that less than 20 per cent of diabetes patients in the country are able to maintain the desired blood sugar profile, cholesterol and blood pressure despite availability of medicines, most of which are reasonably priced.

Add to this, over-weight and obesity which in turn, is the cause of many diseases, we are heading towards disaster. 

Importantly, it is time we change our food habits. So to help bring about this desired change, a fat tax should be seen in a positive light and not viewed as loss of profit by the fast food chains.

Notably, many doctors and nutritionists have suggested that preserved food should be included in this fat tax bracket. As, besides junk eating preserved food too, which are rich in sodium chloride can be deadly thereby causing blood pressure, sluggishness and hormonal imbalance.

Add to this, several food preparations entail the use of colour, additives and chemicals beyond the permissible level, which also can be carcinogenic in the long run.

It is no secret that regulatory mechanisms in this regard are poor, worse is that the Government is not serious in the matter. There have been many instances of adulteration of food --- even milk --- which have been highlighted by various private research organizations. Only following these revelations have the powers-that-be taking any action. 

Obviously, the young generation is the biggest consumers of fast foods which are dangerous to human health. An example, Biryani, a favourite food sold on metros and cities streets is evidently of poor quality wherein chemicals are used as colouring which does not meet the prescribed standards.

Alas, there is none to check the quality consumed by students and youth thereby jeopardizing their health. 

Clearly, in such a situation, where eating out has become a fashion of the day and street foods increased, time has come to seriously ponder over the whole issue. Though the Kerala tax is a good start, other measures also need to be taken by various State Governments to curb unhealthy consumption and curb the incidence of diseases.

True, levying a fat tax might not be the ultimate answer for the upper and middle classes as they easily afford the increase in prices. But for healthy segments of the lower classes it is vital for both the Central and State Governments to introduce measures like regular checking of food quality and create awareness among the school and college going generation. What says you?    ----- INFA

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