The “Fat Tax” in Denmark

By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom

There’s a lot of debate about whether high-calorie “junk” foods should be taxed to help stem the obesity epidemic in our country. Maybe we can gain some insights from the recent policy change in Denmark.

About a year ago, Danish lawmakers instituted a fat tax — a surcharge of foods high in artery-clogging saturated fat. The Danish tax ministry has now repealed that decision, citing a negative effect on both businesses and consumer buying power.

So what went wrong? Perhaps one problem was taxing a whole category of nutrients (fat) rather than specific foods. The bigger problem seems to be that consumers just bought these foods elsewhere. They went to neighboring countries where prices were lower to buy their favorite butters and ice creams.

Most of us are familiar with the “soda tax” issue in our country. Most recently, a bill that would have imposed taxes on sugary drinks was defeated in California. 

The Danish legislature has now cancelled plans for a tax on sugar. 

Is taxing food a good way to improve the health of a nation? What do you think?