Taxing fat

Denmark has introduced a levy on foods high in fat, prompting debate over whether such taxes really do help to improve people's heath and whether other countries should follow their lead.

DENMARK: Danish firms criticise 'fat tax'

7 October 2011

Denmark's food manufacturers have criticised the country's new fat tax, pointing to the financial impact of the levy and questioning whether it will encourage people to eat more healthily.

UK: Cameron mulls 'fat tax' in UK

6 October 2011

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said that the Government may look at introducing a 'fat tax'.

Best bits: Danish fat tax gives industry plenty to chew over

3 October 2011

Across the North Sea today, Denmark will hear its new government's plans for the country when prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and her new cabinet present their policy programme. When the Danes chew over those plans tonight, perhaps over dinner, they will also likely be discussing a policy introduced by the previous administration that went live over the weekend and has attracted global headlines.

Focus: Denmark's saturated fat tax provokes industry anger

16 May 2011

Denmark is set to introduce a tax on food high in saturated fat. The levy, the Danish government claims, will improve the health of the population. The food sector has hit back, questioning that rationale and arguing that consumers will travel to neighbouring countries to buy the affected foods anyway. And, as Gerard O'Dwyer reports, the EU could rule that the tax breaks free trade rules.