Fat Tax Debate Leaning Towards Taxing Manufacturers

Research shows that more and more Americans are eating an overabundance of foods that contain greater amounts of high fructose corn syrup and sugar. By ingesting these foods and not including exercise or a healthier diet, more American’s are suffering from obesity on a daily basis.

Researchers at Iowa State University have explored the different types of foods that contain high fructose corn syrup and sugar. They have researched the affects that these types of food have on Americans. They have sent a request to the government to inquire about taxing certain foods that are greater in high fructose corn syrup and sugars. By doing this they hope to help consumers limit the amount of sugar, they put into their diet. This will help foods to become healthier for the American public. They hope that this will also help to lessen the amount of obese people in the United States. However, the study was not conducted as a way to diminish the obesity rate in the population.

A national debate is leaning towards placing a tax on foods that have higher sweetener. Instead of taxing the customers at the checkout, they have decided that it would be a better idea to tax the manufacturers before the goods hit the shelves. By doing this, they feel it will help the manufacturers revamp their products before putting them out on the shelves for customers to purchase. This will affect people in many different ways. One way will make the product healthier because the food is made with less of a sugary substance. The second will mark up those foods because of the tax is causing customers not to buy the product and in turn they would become healthier. The third is that because of the manufacturer is being taxed, they raise their prices and the customer still buys it. 

Raising the price of foods that are lower in nutrition and higher in sugar can make it difficult for people who cannot afford to pay higher amounts of money for their food. This will definitely affect the poverty population. This will make it more difficult for families who are having a hard time feeding their families now. 

Considering the fact that most processed foods such as spaghetti o’s and mac n’ cheese contain high fructose corn syrup and sugars, cheap meals will become more expensive. This will make it financially difficult on people who rely on these foods to feed their families daily. However by consuming these foods, more health issues will evolve with these families as well.

If more Americans are eating high fructose corn syrup and sugar products more, they are more likely to develop diabetes. This will benefit other companies because of the higher sugar intake. Hospitals and pharmacies will benefit more because more people will become diabetic from eating larger amounts of high fructose corn syrup and sugar foods. 

If this fat tax comes into effect, it will cause people to purchase healthier foods for their families. It will also provide families who cannot afford to purchase healthier foods because of their cost, to buy even less and depend more on their food pantries. 

High fructose corn syrup and sugar is usually the number one ingredient on most processed foods in America. By eliminating this ingredient, these foods can become healthier for all Americans who eat it on a daily basis. This will also help Americans to be able to make better choices when shopping for food for their families. The fat tax, although it may be difficult for those who are already having a difficult time feeding their families, may be helpful in the long run.