The Washington State Senate is expected to pass a tax package that includes a sales tax on candy.
“What foods are governments going to tax next?” asks Dr. Whelan. “We agree with a comment an ACSH member and friend made to us yesterday. He said that obesity is a new Trojan horse. He’s right. Fighting obesity is seen as a good cause that everyone welcomes, but hidden inside this obesity-related Trojan horse are government initiatives that do nothing to prevent obesity but are simply government attempts to raise revenue by taxing politically incorrect foods.
“The proposals now are to tax soda and candy, but the obesity Trojan horse will be filled with other taxes later. We don’t need a Trojan horse full of taxes to fight obesity; we need obesity interventions based on sound science, emphasizing calories in and calories out, teaching people what their ideal daily caloric intake is, and encouraging more exercise to burn calories.”
