Unhealthy food tax

[Frank97]

Do you think unhealthy food should be taxed? I personally think it should be and the revenue generated should be used to subsidise healthy food, so that burgers become expensive but fruit and veg become next to nothing.
Surely that would help to encourage people to eat more healthily and if some of the junk food establishments go under so be it.

[Wrongn3mber]

I'm quite partial to some fried chicken, but only eat this once in a while as one of my "cheat meals"

[LoftyLottie]

As far as getting fat is concerned, cheese is one of the greatest offenders in my opinion and I love it. Certainly it wouldn't be classed as junk food. I have to limit myself, and surely that's what it's all about - a bit of self control with what we eat and getting some more exercise.

[Old_Geezer]

There are many areas where starting at home would be ideal. Trouble is if your parents didn't have the time/ability/inclination then the chances are you won't.

Aye basic cooking to a good standard and learning to plan a healthy meal so one has a basis on how to have a stab at it, is the vital bits. Pizza whatever is all very well, but only after the basics are known and understood.

In my day only the girls were allowed to bake/cook. Pity really. But never mind, I enjoyed the alternative of metalwork and woodwork lessons. Probably helped encourage me to tackle the jobs in the house. Just a pity one never seems to get the space and equipment one had access to when at school. Derailing the thread I know, but ....

[Wrongn3mber]

Cheese=protein, albeit a fatty protein. Like you or someone said it's not what you eat but how often you eat it and the portion size that really turns a a snack/meal into a junk snack/meal.

[LoftyLottie]

And Old Geezer, I would have far preferred woodwork and metalwork to domestic science! ;o). What I learned in school in domestic science in the 1950's/60's was actually of no use to me. Some grotty soup, a steamed apple pudding spring to mind and I dropped the apple pudding in my Mum's pyrex dish on the way back from school!! I learned so much from my grandmother and mother.

[carolegif]

Did you have to cook those soused herring things too Lottie? leaked all over me on the bus home. so did the Junket - why teach us how to make junket when you mustn't move it or it becomes 'unset'?

[LoftyLottie]

Fortunately, I escaped the soused herrings, but I know of several friends who had that wonderful experience, Carole. But now you have mentioned it, yes there was junket too. And we had to scrub wooden tables with a wooden scrubbing brush when we had finished. I hated domestic science much as I hated needlework when I was at school. Yes after school days I started to make all my own clothes.

[heathfield]

I'd just like to point out what nobody has mentioned - that some 'junk food' is already taxed at 20%. To quote HMRC...
''Food and drink for human consumption is, in general, zero-rated but many items are standard-rated, including alcoholic drinks, confectionery, crisps and savoury snacks, food for catering or hot takeaways, ice cream, soft drinks and mineral water.''
Note that 'food for catering or hot takeaways' includes the likes of MacDonalds, KFC, etc.

[weecalf]

Have you bought a fish supper lately, Its about 8 quid .Would you call the tax FAT