Fat tax ‘unfair on poor’

Published on 27/06/2012 00:31

DOCTORS yesterday refused to back a tax on unhealthy foods, saying it would be unfair on poorer families.

The BMA’s annual conference in Bournemouth discussed levying a new tax on foods which contain high levels of fat, sugar or salt.

Doctors argued the food industry is failing to properly label products to inform consumers about the unhealthiness of food they might buy.

They said taxing foods which were bad for you would make them less accessible to shoppers who would then choose healthier alternatives.

But many doctors argued the move would hit the poorest families the hardest, and that many people eat cheaper, unhealthier foods in order to ensure they get enough calories in a day.