I totally agree with adding this SIN tax just like cigarettes and alcohol are taxed. I drink alcohol and used to smoke, but I do think its fair to tax unhealthy choices and put that money into government revenues for health care (I know it goes into general revenue but eventially some of thismoney makes it into health care). I think taxing unhealthy choices will indeed make people think twice about the deep fried foods, candy, chips, and "fast food". It seems to have worked with cigarretes (along with the public advertising campaigns funded by the governement with SIN tax monies!!)...how many people do you know now that smoke compared to 30 years ago??? And to those that say eating healthy is more expensive.....I say bulls#%t......if you go to McDonalds and have a meal for $6-8 a piece and family of 4 eats for $20-30.....you can buy a pile of pork/chicken/vegetables and rice/potatoes for that price and probably get two meals out of that!! Oh yes, but you have to make it yourself!! I think the argument that you can't eat healthy for cheap or less than unhealthy food is being made by lazy people. Don't get me wrong....I fall into that trap also sometimes because its easy to do so, with two young children and two parents that work full time.....its definately easier to eat unhealthy....but at the end of the day when we plan properly we can make a lot of food, put in the fridge as leftovers, and eat healthy all week. As a tax payer I am all for this.....at the end of the day your unhealthy choices are going to cost me and my family as we pay for a "healthcare" (really a sickcare system) system that treats the numerous dieseses that are linked to unhealthy eating and obeisity. I say go for it!!! The people that will be affected the most are probably the people that need to think about this the most and will likely be impacted the most.....as they should be! It time to wake up people.....and if we can't do it on our own....then our government will have to do it for us. Obeisty is an epidemic now for a reason....partially inactivity and also poor food choices!! The governement has created tax incentives to get people off the couch.....maybe a SIN tax is what we need to close the loop on the food side of the issue. And if you don't like governement to get involved in your "personal" choices then maybe the citizens of Canada should have the option to not provide health care to those that make unhealthy choices and do not take care of them selves. Now get off the couch and stop eating those cheesies!!!! (Which I do love!!)

Taxing unhealthy foods is not the answer.

I personally have climbed my way through many income brackets. The lowest of which was as a young mother receiving financial assistance. At that time in my life, after my rent and utilities were paid, I had less than $200 to spend on groceries and incidentals for 2 people. Even then, surviving on such meager income was an impossible task. Eating right was low on my priority list. Thankfully I had the additional support from my parents, my "in-laws" and a close friend or two.

I invite everyone to take a trip to your local grocery store and compare prices. A 2l bottle of Coca-Cola will often go on sale for 99c. 2l of 'juice' loaded with sugar is rarely cheaper than $1.50. Real apple juice, 1L for $1.59. Don't even waste your time with milk or orange juice at $4/2L. This is just one example of the many you could find.

Increasing the end cost on food, no matter how healthy is just another way of ignoring the real issue and giving the false impression of taking action,meanwhile, lining their own pockets.

Its not for the government to tell us how we should be eating. We are already over taxed in Canada. My pay cheque runs out too quick as it is. If I want to buy a chocolate bar or whatever it is with my hard earned money, that has already been taxed heavily, just leave me alone and let me have it. Its a cash grab, they know it won't stop people from buying it, they count on it. And when will that tax be up for review to see if its actually contributing to any form of reduction in unhealthy eating habits? Never would be my guess.

To Physician Lee - I'm so happy you're NOT my doctor. Your comments are absolutely ridiculous! Lovely bedside manner!

Have you ever noticed that a lot of lower income families have overweight kids? Are you one of those people who say "if they stopped feeding their kids junk they wouldn't be fat"? Have you ever stopped and compared the price of, for example, 2 litres of milk versus a can of Koolaid? The Koolaid stretches a lot farther than the milk. A package of Kraft dinner can feed a family of four for about $2. A package of four chicken breasts where I live averages $20 a package. A 3 pound bag of apples? Last time I was at the grocery store it averaged $5.99. It comes down to money. If you are a working family, making minimum wage or slightly higher, it's very difficult to buy healthy foods all the time. If you want to help overweight kids, make nutritious food available to everyone at a reasonable cost. And for God's sake, leave teachers out of it! They work much longer than six hours a day and put up with YOUR children's crap and YOUR crap on a daily basis. They are limited in what they can do in the way of physical activity because government ultimately decides curriculum and funding to deliver it. All extra-curricular activities offered by a school after the regular school day that have teachers involved is strictly on a volunteer basis, they don't get paid. And I'm not a teacher, I wouldn't want to spend my career dealing with other people's children, but I have nothing but the highest respect for people who do it every day. Stop being haters and instead focus your energies on finding solutions. Volunteer at a food bank, a breakfast program, your child's school, any school. Clean up the parks, start a neighbourhood watch so children can play outside again without having to worry about "strangers". Clean up your own neighbourhood. Smile and say hello to "fatties" instead of making rude comments or staring, stop discriminating. One person could make a difference to someone's self-esteem and confidence that could get them on the right track.

I agree 100% with the 1st post by Tina.....we are an age of sitting on our butts and being on the computers and game consoles......this has more about a non physical
activities that snacks!! we are constantly seeing cuts in kids activities ect in schools and Towns,this also has to factor in some place????

I have sat and read alot of the comments that have been made here and can't believe people who are calling for the tax automatically believe that people who are over-weight sit down and munch their way into unhealthy. I am over-weight and have been since the birth of my kids, that is when my thyroid decided to stop functioning. This little butterfly shaped organ controls how food is broken down and taken in by my body. I take 2 pills a days to get this little sucker working and yet, this is not taken in to account. Other medical issues can play havac on the way our systems break down food. Cancer patients often gain weight with treatment but some would assume these people are sitting on the couch playing X-Box and munching on chips and other crap food. If the government wants people to get up and move, here is novel idea, lower the price of rec centre, offer more programs that encourage rather then discourage people, and stop trying excuses to make people pay more. It would be like taxing the homeless for being homeless

I don't think that raising the price of unhealthy food is enough. If the government wants to encourage healthy eating, they should make healthy foods cheaper. It can be very expensive to eat healthy, especially if you have a large family or if you have a low income.

If they want to put a stop 2 obesity its not about junk food mcdonalds has been around a very long time so why now is it being blamed the problem is kids don't get enough excercise they need more physical activities at school and if families didn't have to work so much they would take their kids to the park more and b able to cook healthier foods for dinner instead of grabbing something quick on the way home bcuz they had a long day and don't feel like spending more time to cook so basically if u want to stop obesity make it possible for at least one parent to b home more

High taxes on cigarettes in Canada just opened up the illegal supply routes. Will I need to go to the street dealer to get my Big Mac?

Healthy foods need to be cheaper and junk foods need to be limited in terms of availability to the public. Many of the ingredients in junk food aren't 'food', they're a toxic chemical soup. Taxing fatty foods without providing people with a healthy alternative makes no sense.

All you fatty haters are being ridiculous...I know far more "skinny" people that eat a crap load more junk food than any "fat" person I know. And they feel entitled to do so because they "burn" it off. So a fat person should be ridiculed on here for being fat, yet the skinny person eating and doing the very same things or worse are totally off the hook because they are skinny? Grab a brain people. Unhealthy lifestyles, regardless of weight is what puts a drain on our healthcare system. My sister smokes, eats crappy fatty junk food, drinks at least 3 pots of coffee a day and NEVER exercises, yet she is skinny... I am fat, I run 5K everyday, weight lift, eat smart, rarely eat anything "white", never eat at McD's or the equivalent and take responsibility for my health issues...which I might add are not as a result of my weight, yet I am a drain on our healthcare system because I am fat...yeah ok, whatever...get real...you judgmental freaks! Our Gov't is full of liars, cheats and losers that sit around discussing ways to make a quick buck on the backs of us hard working citizens. They won't tax the extra "fat" tax on the producers because they are a cash cow for them. Why do you think there are still companies that make cigarettes... This will be just another way to "big brother" the people in this country. Vote no to the fat tax and yes to better quality food and food producers.

Every-time I hear of tax being used to make people act "better" it kind of upsets me. In this case it upsets me for two reason: I don't think that it is the taxman's place to tell me how to eat, as an adult I should be able to decide myself; and I do not believe that it will curb behaviour.

For example, alcohol in Canada is taxed exuberantly, yet we still have alcoholics and drunk drivers. In fact our alcohol consumption isn't much different then the States, who pay much less for alcohol. Furthermore, the crazy gas prices haven't affected peoples want for large trucks and SUV's, in fact the market is thriving for those kinds of vehicles. Yes, I understand that they are now more fuel efficient, but there are far better options in Sedans and smaller cars that many people do not choose to take advantage of.

We already pay enough tax and this is just another excuse for us to pay more. Tax persuasion doesn't work; it does not change peoples behaviour. Remember too, once a tax is made into law, it is never unmade, you will be paying it for the rest of your life.

A fat tax, to eat fat.
A carbon tax to breathe. They seem to love the idea that taxation could solve all of humanity's woes.
North America is the biggest producer and consumer of genetically modified crap food and grocery shelves are innondated with processed crap. Big corporations like Monsanto are destroying the food supply, seed diversity and causing small farms to go out of business. All of this is going on and someone wants to tax us for eating the crap that is imposed on us? Don't get me wrong, I don't like unhealthy food, but I don't think that punishing the average citizen who has less and less money to spend every year because of the devaluation of the dollar is the solution. Energy should be spent on fixing the food supply, not trying to curb bad behavior through taxation.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ROFLMFAO ..... Taxing fat people.... AHAHAHAHAHAHA We're governed by fair men and women though right? A fair system? Next government cash scam inc.... too funny

you want to fix child obesity: start at the school level. For three days a week children should have gym classes from 7 am to 10 am (yes i said it, three hours a day for 3 days). Focus less on music class, arts and crafts, family studies, geography. I am not saying that these classes are not important. I am suggesting they divide the hours of those classes to put more emphasis on what is more important: Childrens health.

I think we already pay enough in tax, so why don't we put some of those dollars to work, such as adding the extracurricular activities back into schools. We have a problem with obesity because our children are being taught to sit and study/play on a computer instead of being outside. Then they come home to 2-4 hours of homework...when are they suppose to be outside being children?? All for the sake of our teachers only having to work a 6 hour day - things need to change!!

60 years ago, there were weighty youngsters. In 60 years the population of Canada has increased considerably . I believe most weighty people are born like that, and that is why there is more of them. God love them all.

Really, I honestly doubt that will make a difference- did the change in photos on the cigarette packages work? No!

There is so much profit in Junk food that the companies can drop the prices by 20 percent in Canada (which would still be more expensive than in the US) and all would be the same to the consumer. A 20 % subsidy on fresh fruits and veggies, that works for me - best of both worlds.
The biggest problem in that parents don't beleive it is safe for kids to run around the streets and fields playing ball unsupervised. Too many sickos out there. So easy for someone in a car to grab a kid and drive off. Safer to keep kids in the house playing video games. And then they grow FAT

I don't understand the comments indicating healthy food is more expensive than unhealthy food. A few individuals I know who have limited income are constantly complaining about cost yet when they shop I will see the largest bag of chips in the cart when in actual fact they could have purchased two bags of apples ($1.00/bag when on sale). Someone mentioned they pay $4.00 for head of lettuce. I don't know where they shop but I have never paid that. It pays to "shop the flyers". Don't just grab the first thing you see. Do some menu planning... it all helps to cut down on cost of groceries.

"Fat" tax is a little off the mark, given that it's white carbs/sugar that do the most damage. Yes, tax fast food with trans and heavy saturated fats, too, but make sure you're going after the sugary andoverly salty foods and anything that is void of most nutrients. Not all fat is bad for you, so "fat" is kind of a misnomer here. An obesity rate that is increasing an alarming rate is NOT a "personal" choice, it's a choice that effects everyone; what you put in your mouth effects MORE than just you (and your health/waistline). Health care costs, fuel consumption, environmental damage, depleting resourses, even a risk to national security (not fit to fight) are all the results of what individual citizens put in their mouth. Therefore, it IS my business and it IS the gov'ts business. People aren't practicing smart choices when given the freedom, obviously not given the rising obesity epidemic, so something has to change and fast. Parents are passing these bad habits onto their children, killing them slowly and lining them up to have the same kinds of problems as adults themselves, given that sugar is more addictive than crack and studies already show overwhelmingly that eating habits form while you're a child.

It would be ironic if the government made that makers of unhealthy foods pay extra taxes and then use that money to pay for the subsidies for healthy food. To say that this idea is outright stupid is a but rash to say the least. As a result of the majority of the westernized world running of these unhealthy foods many diseases like obesity, have become increasingly prevalent. I have even noticed countries that seen to be converting to the fast-fast crash diet have been especially hurt by the consumption of fast food. For example diabetes, heart disease and even acne. We have the power to change things but we are not motivated enough.

Isn't life tough enough? How about being really nice and polite to people with a weight problem? How about we dwell on something about ourselves that we would like to improve. And how about government doing the same.

It really depends on the person. There are people who would freak out because of the tax increase and decide they should limit their junk food purchases or just stop buying them altogether. Then there are people who would buy them anyway for uncontrollable craving purposes. I agree with those who feel that it really is up to the person and knowing when to stop. I feel like increasing taxes won't be enough to greatly increase a healthier take on life. Plus, people can just buy the ingredients and make it themselves to fulfill these cravings. It's a huge world with many ideas and perspectives.

Fantastic idea! Tax the junk food. Use the tax to subsidize healthy food, farmers and to put into healthcare. How could anyone not see the logic in this!

Obesity due to unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise is a major drain on our health care system. You can call a "fat tax" a cash grab but right now the money is coming out of everyone's pockets. People who have unhealthy eating habits are more likely to have health problems. Why should I have to pay for someone elses bad choices. People who don't have junk food habits shouldn't have to pay for the results of someone elses. The same goes for smoking. Working in the health care industry you see the devestating effects of a lifetime of smoking and or poor eating. It requires time, money and resources. You will have to excuse me if I don't shed tears for the "poor, suffering, hard done by" obese people in our country." I am not being descriminating towards obese people(or smokers). I'm merely suggesting that people take responsibility and face the consequences of their actions. Let them be held accountable, They are the ones with the power to change, or seek help to change. This tax would be a way for the country to help be a part of the solution.

Insane, how far would it go? The gov. doesn't want us to use a Mac so they tax it and give you a tax reduction on PCs. The gov. doesn't want you to drive your car so they raise the sales tax on it to a rediculus level and give you a tax reduction on your GO train tickets. and so on and so on. Insane............

Insane, how far would it go? The gov. doesn't want us to use a Mac so they tax it and give you a tax reduction on PCs. The gov. doesn't want you to drive your car so they raise the sales tax on it to a rediculus level and give you a tax reduction on your GO train tickets. and so on and so on. Insane............

Maybe if healthier snakes and ingredients were cheaper than more people may purchase them instead of the cheaper unhealthy alternatives...

I don't think a tax on junk food is the best way to solve the obesity epidemic. Who will decide which foods are junk and which foods are healthy? A government panel heavily influenced by agribusiness and the food industry? These are the same folks who publish Canada's Food Guide subject to industry lobbying and approval.

One reason junk food is so cheap is that certain sectors of agricultural production are heavily subsidized already (corn producers for example) as part of an incestuous relationship between politicians and agribusiness. Healthy food may appear to cost more in comparison, but what many people fail to realize is how small their food budgets are (as a percentage of household spending) when compared with their grandparents' generation.

Concentrating more power in the hands of government in order to do good is a double-edged sword. Once we give them the power, the government frequently will sell us out to big business under the guise of protecting us.

Healthy choices are available. Follow Michael Pollan's food rules. Eat food that hasn't been heavily processed - fresh meat, fruit and vegetables. Stay away from food that comes in a box and lasts forever. Shop at your local farmers market - support small local producers instead of large food corporations.

Oh and turn off the tv and the video games and go out and get some fresh air and exercise once in a while.

As a thin person with no weight problem that eats french fries 'cause they are good food and do not give me a problem. A Swedish study about 15 25 years ago showed they are helthier than a boiled potato that has stood for 15 minutes. Properly done fries have more vitamin A. And a number of foods tend to be called junk and I resent it. Obese people should quit eating what is junk to them. Why should I suffer beause they wish to play weak willed?

You guys are LOST! Did you notice that this came from a British Med Journal....We live in Canada! So why do we always have to borrow from what outsiders think?
I for one can think for myself. Maybe if taxes are lowered the poor people could aford good food... ever think of that?

As a person whom is over weight (have been for quite some time) and desparately trying to fix that issue, I can say that I highly believe this will not work. Like many have said, if someone wants something, they will buy it. Whether it's cigarettes, alcohol, or junk food. At the end of the day, they really are addictions. There are a lot of people out there that yes, have a serious health issue that causes them to be over weight. But there are even more people who gorge like you would not believe.

I think that the best thing would be to make the food that we should be eating less expensive. But then it ropes back to how do we get such food for cheaper prices? Cost of living has only risen and we do need to take into consideration that the people whom grow this food need to be able to have some quality of life as well. So where does one draw the line? As well, many jobs these days can barely cover the cost of a place to live, let alone any other bills. There are so many variables to how to solve this issue that it simply cannot be solved with just another tax.

And further more, if this "fat tax" went into effect, where would the money go? If you are taxing the over weight people, I say it should be invested into health programs for people. Exercise classes people can go into and are either free or have a very low cost to them. But what would really happen is the funds would be used to line the pockets of some of our friends up in Parliament.

We have such a problem with unemployment and families barely being able to survive on what they can provide that taxing them is not going to help the slightest bit.

I agree that people eat too much junk food and are more inactive and becoming more obese than ever before but people have to be the ones who want the change their eating habits and life styles. They need to be the responsible ones. You can't force a change like this on people. It doesn't work. And no I don't believe that the government cares about the publics wellbeing. If the public gets healthier, many other companies and businesses loose money because their services and products won't be needed as much, like medication for those with diabetes from being overweight and blood pressure medication, etc. And what happens then..... the government looses money and taxes, if people are healthier. You have to read between the lines when something like this is printed. I agree with John....Make healthier foods cheaper or don't tax some of the healthier foods.

How about on top of the junk food tax; a 20% tax on video games, TV, internet, smart phones and parents who feed their kids fast food and junk food, instead of making a proper meal. Yes, yes I know, you are too busy and you don't want to miss your favourite TV show. Sorry, I doubt any additional tax will change anything with obesity; we have become a lazy society. Sugar, salt and fat or any combination of, are addictive, therefore junk and fast food companies are making a fortune by overloading their products with these ingredients.

How about on top of the junk food tax; a 20% tax on video games, TV, internet, smart phones and parents who feed their kids fast food and junk food, instead of making a proper meal. Yes, yes I know, you are too busy and you don't want to miss your favourite TV show. Sorry, I doubt any additional tax will change anything with obesity; we have become a lazy society. Sugar, salt and fat or any combination of, are addictive, therefore junk and fast food companies are making a fortune by overloading their products with these ingredients.

You can't fix "Stupid"....

Just make the doorways to the restaurants half as big and ban fat people from the drive-throughs ... really, who gives a darn if these people waddle through life and leave before their time has come ... it's their choice ...

To RI with her polycystic ovarian syndrome story...I am a physican and you need to know (have porbable been told by numerous docs, that PCOS is CAUSED by being fat and lazy...just like adult onset diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol (metabolic syndrome)
If you were to follow a healthy life style..ie:SMALLER PORTIONS of Healthy, high fiber food, no added fats, oils and supplements so readily pushed on you by the highschooldropout who works at the "Health food store" and exercized your butt off (pardon the pun) for 2 hours a day (and no, walking the dog does now count as exercize and neither does whatever work you do...I'm talking hard core non stop 1-2 hour gym workout or a 10km jog EVERY DAY and you'll see your PCOS go away.
You will also never develope Diabetes, (which you probably already have due to your obesity, but with above lifestyle you will no longer be diabetic) your cholesterol and bloodpressure will benefit, you won't develop osteoporosis, fatty infiltrate in the liver (liverchirrosis) etc etc, and therefore, you will be saving other taxpayers, who currently pay hughe amount towards providning you with medication, regular specialist visits and most likely also a disability pension (most fat people find excuses not to be able to work...backpain, diabetes, jointpains, fibromyalgia etc (all part of the lazy fat culture. )
So I say tax rebates for those who have a normal BMI, buy healthy foods and exercise regularly and remaine employed - every year you work...less tax!

It's clear that 20% on fat tax is not enough. 25% will do it much better.

Or, here's a novel idea, we let the market dictate what companies should and should not sell instead of having the government, yet again, decide what is or is not good for us. You already see this happening with fast food chains offering healthy alternatives on their menu and the move towards more locally, organic vegetables. The whole 'eat healthy' lifestyle is what pervades today and people are, slowly but surely, coming around to the idea that we need to eat healthier. T

The main problems, however, are three fold:

1.) Like one poster said here, people are working too long and hard at work to be able to properly make balanced meals for them to eat.

2.) Electronics, video games, work....you name it run our lives and we get less excercise now than we have at any other point in history.

3.) Grocery stores, and the agricultural sector in general, are ripping us off and making healthy food too expensive to buy. Cut out the middle men and you'll see food prices drop overnight!

STOP this assumption that only government can regulate how you feel, eat, live, drive, sleep etc. Start taking responsibility for your own actions and start living a healthier lifestyle yourself whether its eating less or more nutrient rich food!

People willl NOT stop eating junk food just because it costs more. If i'm craving something unhealthy, for example a chocolate bar, I'll go buy it at a 7-11 or an expensive little corner store for $1.50 to save me the hassle of the line ups at a big huge grocery store where it would be half price. So right there I'm paying a "tax" in a way to satisfy my sweet tooth. I'm in great shape but i do endugle once in a while and price doesn't matter.

If the price of cocaine went up 10bux a gram would we be free of drug addicts?

All this tax will do is make the fat people poorer and lessen their quality of life. Maybe they have kids who will now suffer the consequences of having broke parents just because they are fat. Sorry little Timmy you can't have that toy cause icecream and donuts are so expensive these days.

You can't force someone to live off fruits, veggies and whole wheat pasta. If i'm craving some chocolate I'm gonna eat it! I just know to keep it in moderation, that's what the problem is with fat people.

that what doesn't contain life does not support life only death disease and dying. Almost everything is GMO'd so the body doesn't recognize it as a food source and thus puts up defense to it causing immune system responses and more disease. The cure you ask? Go back to natures plants-feast on it- if you put in life you support life and thus longivity. Put in that which is dead you support death disease and dying not to mention the pharmaceuticle and medicle system...........

How about a subsidy on fruit and vegetables instead? I love fruit and would buy it in massive quantities, but it is just too expensive. When it is on sale, I buy all I can and eat it daily. The government would rather collect a tax and MAKE MONEY and pretend it is doing something rather than SPEND MONEY to really make a difference. Adding sixty cents to a bag of $3.00 chips is not a big deal, where a dollar off on a pound of fruit or vegetables is quite significant.

Tax the companies that make the unhealthy foods and lower the prices on the healthy foods and then give subsidies to the farmers that grow organic foods so that can be affordable, too. Tax whoever is responsible for putting hormones and chemicals in the meat. That has a lot to do with unhealthy bodies. Somebody said we should tax the government for being stupid - good idea!
Taxes will never stop anything - you should know that by now. Tell me one thing that taxes have stopped that has made this a better country with healthier people.

Did increasing taxes on smoking stop smoking? No! Adding extra taxes is not the answer. Making healthy foods cheaper would help, my groccery bill doubled when I started eating healthier.
Subsidized gym memberships, I pay a lot of money to go to the gym and it isn't really affordable to me but it is necessary.

LOWER THE COST OF VEGETABLES AND VEGAN FOOD. VEGETABLES AND SOY PRODUCTS COST MORE THAN MEAT AND DAIRY PRODUCTS. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR FOOD THAT ISN'T COMING FROM A MURDERED ANIMAL? WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR MILK THAT ISN'T FROM A COW. MEAT BECAUSE I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING ANIMALS AND ROBBING COWS OF THEY'RE MILK.

what the hey?? who says healthy food is expensive??? if you eat 3* the portions u are supposed to... yes it's expensive... but financing a belly on junk food is not cheap either.... get off the couch and move.... pretty straight forward. taxation is no problem solver... just another excuse to collect money. u can't micromanage peoples choices... the techno age has simply made everyone lazy. when i was a kid everyone was at the ballfield after work and on weekends, including my parents who worked full time and had 4 kids. my mom and dad made awesome home made meals... they never bitched about having to spend a half hour in the kitchen making something decent. times have changed.

I thought fast food and junk food containing all those chemicals etc are addictive and cause depression? taxing the food will not fix those problems. It just means people already spending money on that type of food will be spending more money on it. Because it's fast, easy, and cheap. If the government really wants to stop people from eating junk food then the product needs to be changed. all the taxes are going to do is put more money into the governments hands.

It is so expensive for someone to go on a diet, why not make healthy foods cheaper.

Why does everyone think that a fat person eats junk food all the time. I was born Fat and I will always be fat. You don't see me running to the store and buying a bag of chips and eat it all at once. People have prejudices and that's the problem. 100 years ago life expectancy was about 50 yrs old. Now people are living till they're 100 so you can't tell me that we are doing worst than before. And I do agree with all the arguments about middle class and poor class people that can't afford food. A bag of white pasta that can feed a family of 6 costs .99$ and a box of whole wheat pasta that can barely feed 3 people costs 2.00$. That's the problem. A new tax will only mean that people will revert to even worst foods. The government just wants to make more money off of us. What are they gonna do when all the baby boomers are gone and the rest of us refuse to give in to their politics. It's gonna get nasty. STOP JUDGING FAT PEOPLE cause I know a lot of SKINNY people that eat way worst than I do.....