State and local governments across the nation are increasingly using the government's power to battle rising obesity rates by taxing sugar-sweetened drinks, changing food labeling and promoting exercise.
But food and drink lobbyists and special interest groups are starting to push back.
"Government is getting too big and too involved in our lives," said American Beverage Association (ABA) spokesman Chris Gindlesperger, whose group's products are being targeted by some of the latest initiatives.
Last May, D.C. lawmakers approved a measure that would add sports drinks, soda and other sweetened beverages to the list of food items subject to the city's 6 percent sales tax. The money from the D.C. tax would be used to fund physical education programs in local schools. A similar bill was passed in Colorado in February.
But food and drink lobbyists and special interest groups are starting to push back.
"Government is getting too big and too involved in our lives," said American Beverage Association (ABA) spokesman Chris Gindlesperger, whose group's products are being targeted by some of the latest initiatives.
Last May, D.C. lawmakers approved a measure that would add sports drinks, soda and other sweetened beverages to the list of food items subject to the city's 6 percent sales tax. The money from the D.C. tax would be used to fund physical education programs in local schools. A similar bill was passed in Colorado in February.
Americans Against Food Taxes (AAFT) has begun ad campaigns in Washington and elsewhere nationwide featuring moms at grocery stores saying, "I can decide what to buy without government help. The government is just getting too involved in our personal lives." One radio ad also makes it political, though not personal — saying voters need to send Congress a message, but giving no names of anyone on any ballot.
The food fight has indeed gone national, though the results have been mixed.
• In Philadelphia, restaurants are now required to display nutritional information on menus, and Mayor Michael Nutter proposed a soft-drink tax, but the Philadelphia City Council decided not to consider it for a vote.• In San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom instituted a citywide policy that removed Coke, Pepsi and Fanta Orange from all vending machines on city property, but allowed the diet versions of the drinks to stay.
• In New York City, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg recently sent a request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ban sugared drinks from being purchased in the city with food stamps. Bloomberg also was an early pioneer both of mandating nutritional information on menus and using city government's power to ban restaurant use of trans fats.
The food fight has indeed gone national, though the results have been mixed.
• In Philadelphia, restaurants are now required to display nutritional information on menus, and Mayor Michael Nutter proposed a soft-drink tax, but the Philadelphia City Council decided not to consider it for a vote.• In San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom instituted a citywide policy that removed Coke, Pepsi and Fanta Orange from all vending machines on city property, but allowed the diet versions of the drinks to stay.
• In New York City, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg recently sent a request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ban sugared drinks from being purchased in the city with food stamps. Bloomberg also was an early pioneer both of mandating nutritional information on menus and using city government's power to ban restaurant use of trans fats.
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7 comments:
I'll take being fat over Nutrasweet poisoning any day from those diet drinks.
I have no problem with snacks and sodas being taxed. I don't want to see food stamps used for Mountain Dew and Cheetos.
But some of these measures are stupid.
Until they make people getting MY tax dollars to buy their food curtail their spending on junk food, how dare they try to tell me what to spend MY money that I earn on when I go to the store!
I don't eat a lot of junk food but if I did, it would be my hard earned dollars buying it - not the taxpayers! The idio proposing this and any others who support it should be voted out of office!
All the tax stuff is a waste. Simply charge fat bodies more for health coverage. Reward those keeping their blood sugar, cholesterol etc level down.
9:24 You hit the nail on the head about food stamps being used for soda and sugary drinks but the government taxing something because it has sugar in it is ridiculous. That is when you know government is getting too big.
I hope people wake up to whats happening....whats next, tax on bacon? Ho Ho's? Milkshakes? I guess one day soon you will have to have a cholesterol test before you order eggs for breakfast...and prick your finger for a blood sugar test before you can order dessert.
That is why it pays to become a Fem*i*vore.
A recent study has found that corn syrup causes liver scarring just like alcohol. This is no doubt why sugary drinks have been pulled from schools. Lawsuits are no doubt in the making.
If my tax dollar is going to food stamps and health care, big business can just get over it!
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