Denmark to tax foods that are high in saturated fat

Denmark has imposed a tax on foods that contains more than 2.3 percent saturated fat. The fat tax is levied at 16 Danish kroner ($ 2.87) per kilo of saturated fat. The cost of butter, cream, cheese, meat, cooking oil and processed foods like pizza and dark chocolate are set to go up proportionately. According to the tax ministry’s calculations, a 250g package of butter will wind up costing 14.1 percent more, while the price of a litre of olive oil will rise 7.1 percent. The price of butter will rise by 14 percent, whereas the price of margarine will rise by 21 percent, and whipped cream will be 12 percent more expensive. 

The main argument for the new food tax, based on fat content in food, is that public health needs to be improved. But the Chamber of Commerce does not believe the new tax will have that affect. “This tax hits all types of food, also healthy and lean products such as duck and cheese. And in reality, this tax will only have a very minute effect on our health. According to the Prevention Commission, the tax will increase our life expectancy by 5.5 days after the tax has been in place for 10 years,” said Lotte Engbæk Larsen, food policy manager of the Chamber of Commerce.