Taxation of fat, an idea that has been kicked around on both sides of the Atlantic for a few years, has suddenly been elevated to the forefront of government consciousness in the United Kingdom. The premise, which is dubious at best, is that a fat tax might make the population healthier and happier, and simultaneously reduce the financial burden of healthcare. Here I examine this compulsion to legislate the populace towards health. Can it possibly be good for us?
The confusion of a mixed message. Until recently, health propaganda focused on the evil of saturated fats in particular, not on fats in general. The motive has been to reduce the number of strokes and heart attacks by lowering cholesterol levels, rather than to combat obesity. So most nutritionists have been busily urging the public to cut their intake of foods that are high in saturated fats, such as butter and ...
