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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that as big food industry cause a huge chunk of the NHS bill that they need to be taxed an NHS surcharge? Whats more galling is that many large food companies are US owned and the medication is US supplied.

135 replies

Noras · 09/09/2026 05:47

We need radical thinking now.

The population is being physically harmed by uber processed foods. Many companies who produce the food are US owned. The US having poisoned is then sells us the drugs to maintain lofe and not cure any conditions.

Crisps - many US owned companies
Soft drinks - mainly US owned companies
Things like tomato ketchup - mainly US owned companies
Sweetened yoghurt - mainly US owned compnaies
Chocolate - Cadburys - say no more
Oven chips - US owned

The Gov needs to tax the hell out of carb heavy processed junk food and reduced VAT on fruit / veg / legumes etc.

Its glaringly apparent that there is something significantly wrong with the current proportions/ floor space of poor food choices in supermarkets.

Most of the aisles is taken up with selling pretend plastic foods.

Why is the Gov allowing this and not taxing this stuff to the hilt and spending that tax money on the NHS?

It makes me believe that we have a corrupt Gov not prepared to tackle large food consortiums and thus allowing the British public to be poisoned into poor health / diabetes etc where they become customers for large US pharmacy.

The whole thing is crazy. People need to be able to cook better and stop wasting money on processed junk. In that same vein, we need to tax more all take away places especially McDonald’s, Burger King, all coffee shops selling mass produced cakes with palm oil etc.

OP posts:
concertinacornflake · 09/09/2026 06:05

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 09/09/2026 06:03

Do people work it out like that?

The average 10yo knows a mars bar is more filling than a satsuma, yes.

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 09/09/2026 06:05

ElefantAndCastle · 09/09/2026 06:02

It won't happen that American compagnirs fund NHS.
People could think twice about their health but...

Others don’t want that, there’s people who really seem
to want to head for the days when the state get to decide what people can and can’t eat.

ElefantAndCastle · 09/09/2026 06:04

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 09/09/2026 06:03

Do people work it out like that?

Not really I think.

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 09/09/2026 06:03

concertinacornflake · 09/09/2026 06:02

It is far cheaper per calorie for regular price items.

It is heavily promoted. Often discounted.

Some local areas have no shops that sell fresh produce.

Edited

Do people work it out like that?

To think that as big food industry cause a huge chunk of the NHS bill that they need to be taxed an NHS surcharge? Whats more galling is that many large food companies are US owned and the medication is US supplied.
concertinacornflake · 09/09/2026 06:02

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 09/09/2026 06:00

This, it’s free choice, none of the people eating this are being forced to. And it’s not the cheapest option before people use that excuse. Morrisons were selling bags of apples, pears and satsumas for 5p each on their More scheme!

It is far cheaper per calorie for regular price items.

It is heavily promoted. Often discounted.

Some local areas have no shops that sell fresh produce.

ElefantAndCastle · 09/09/2026 06:02

It won't happen that American compagnirs fund NHS.
People could think twice about their health but...

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 09/09/2026 06:00

HoppingPavlova · 09/09/2026 05:51

Who’s forcing people to buy this though? My fridge and cupboards don’t have this stuff, apart from the occasional treat, and why should we be stopped from buying the occasional treat by making it prohibitive because some people actively choose to stuff their trolleys full of it?

This, it’s free choice, none of the people eating this are being forced to. And it’s not the cheapest option before people use that excuse. Morrisons were selling bags of apples, pears and satsumas for 5p each on their More scheme!

concertinacornflake · 09/09/2026 05:57

I think the comparison to tobacco that some draw is correct - the product being sold is known to be harmful to health. The same approach could be taken - tax, labelling, advertising restrictions, placement restrictions.

The fact these products are significantly cheaper than healthier foods creates skewed consumer behaviour.

InterestedDad37 · 09/09/2026 05:56

You're right on the food, but I guess it won't happen. But we only get about 10% of our pharmaceuticals from the USA.
We also get loads from Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, France, China and India.

HoppingPavlova · 09/09/2026 05:51

Who’s forcing people to buy this though? My fridge and cupboards don’t have this stuff, apart from the occasional treat, and why should we be stopped from buying the occasional treat by making it prohibitive because some people actively choose to stuff their trolleys full of it?

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