Fat tax on whole milk ...

[katchat]

My mum told me about this ... what does everyone think? Personally I think it is disgraceful as whole milk is so good for young children, and if you're on a limited income and semi/skimmed is cheaper, which are you going to buy??

Anyway, here's a bit from the Times ...

Tom Marshall, a public health specialist who recently studied the possible effects of a fat tax, believes that adding VAT to foods high in saturated fats ? such as full-fat milk, hard cheeses, butter, ice-cream, buns and biscuits ? could make a major impact on cholesterol levels

I hadn't realised it was so much more expensive. I must shop with my eyes closed Surely though we're only talking a few pence?

I can't believe what I've just read - who does this idiot think he is...yes, by all means introduce a "fat tax" - i support that all the way - BUT tax the crap foods like confec, crisps and snacks, suggery fizzy drinks, fatty and salty ready meals etc not whai I would consider good foods such as a glass of milk, a hunk of cheese - even a homemade fairy cake made with butter is helthier than manufactured snacks full of hydrogenated veg oil. In fact I but butter rather than low fat spreads as at least butter is natural. -
Rant over....thanks for bringing this to my attention...

Katchat

I'm incensed too. Whole milk, at only 4% is actually a low fat food, and you're right, I believe that children up to a certain age (is it 6) need quite a high fat intake to build brain tissue.

The fat tax IMO is simply another way for the govt to raise revenue, and actually has less to do with keeping us healthy (otherwise they'd subsidise healthy foods wouldn't they).

Northerner ... it only would be a few pence if you think a pint of milk costs (bl**dy hell - how much does it cost???!!) 40p (??), and then you add 17.5% VAT onto it, it'd go up to 47p.

But it's the principle! How can the Department of Health tell parents it's essential to give their children whole milk, and then on the other hand penalise them for buying it because it's unhealthy?!

Typical government bollocks where left hand doesn't know what right hand's doing IMO

how about taxing it, but give parents of children vouchers for half a pint a day per child? Or supply it free at school....just like the old days!!

message withdrawn

Northerner its not happened yet thats why you haven't noticed. Agree with the general opinion expressed btw.

That is so ridiculous! we passed a farm the other day which had a poster outside saying "96% fat-free milk produced here" which was funny.

Completely agree about buying proper foods (which may be high fat but at least you know what is in them!). Health experts are now begining to turn their attention away from fat and towards foods with a high glycemic index aren't they? Such as refined carbohydrates.

Did anyone see the back page article in January's Observer Food Monthly by Hugh Fearnley-Whitingstall? (will try and find link later). Was absolutely hilarious attach on "Go Ahead" bars etc for being a bit low in fat but up to 50% sugar!

Have got an ice cream maker and now make home made ice cream with 50% fruit puree (including normal bog-standard sugar - no artificial sweetners for me thank you) and 50% proper cream. Apparently some cheaper ice creams contain chicken fat and other such rubbish. Apart from the sugar (about 15% I think) I think it's actually a pretty healthy desert in moderation.....

I am sick to death of reading about how everybody is obese and the government are going to tax this and that blah blah blah.

Maybe is they stopped selling off bloody school playing fields and actually promoted sport in schools instead of being scared of being sued in case anyone falls over and grazes their knee pupils would run off some of their so called flab.

Talk about giving people a complex about body issues FFS.

ffs. that's my mature contribution to this debate.

That's my articulate response too! And I don't use commas when annoyed either.

They've actually removed this idea from the discussion paper after the publics response to the leak. Gordon Brown also thought is was a crappy ides - must be coz he's got a young one in the house.

Ban ready made meals - they taste nothing like the food they are supposed to be and have got god knows what in them.

so instead of us mummies giving our toddler lovely full cream milk which is what they need, they want us to look at saving at money and buy semiskimmed or skimmed milk? this is stupid, at first they talk about fruit and veg vouchers then want to tax us for giving our kids a relatively healthy drink which they need. put tax on sweets, crisps, ready prepared crap but not milk. bring back free milk at schools as well for all primary kids not just nursery kids.

Oh my GAWD , this world has gone totally MAAAD. I understand buns and biscuits but BUTTER & HARD CHEESE. No wonder the french think WE are mad!!!

Some cheese / fat is good for you, we need it infact. Low fat is a joke , all the TRANS fats in them are worse for you than real fats, as trans fats are ALTERED fats. NOT nice.

It is just another stealth tax p the Gov must thin we are really stupid to believe it is really for our own benefit.

It is just another stealth tax, the Gov must think we are really stupid to believe it is really for our own benefit.

Why doesn't this surprise me.

So what will the government do when all the children of now are older and keep breaking bones because they didn't get enough fat (I know semi and skimmed has similar quantities of calcium.)

They really are clutching at straws here!

How about building some decent playparks (preferably fenced and gated and keep clean so the kids can run around and use up all that energy!)

And if this tax is to be imposed, where will the money raised go???? Into healthy eating/sports initiatives? I very much doubt it.

I think this government does think we're all stupid actually. They regularly insult the electorate with this kind of toss. Oh dear, I don't seem to have got any maturity about this in the last couple of hours. It makes me so cross.

Um, why are people slagging off the govt? Seems to me an advisor suggested it, and Politicians nixed the idea. Therefore, the govt. did the sensible thing, no?

This thread's mad, people getting het up about a rumour. These are the VAT rates for food in the EU

Country VAT rate

Belgium 6%

Denmark 25%

Germany 7%

Greece 8%

Spain 4%

France 5.5%

Ireland 0%

Italy 4%

Luxembourg 3%

Netherlands 6%

Austria 10%

Portugal 5%

Finland 17%

Sweden 12%

UK 0%

Malta 0%

Thank you Tinker and Zebra. Will immediately stop believing this rumour and agree, if it isn't going to happen, great. However, I did read a headline in The Times (not mine, was at a friend's house!) last week that suggested a similar thing so it wouldn't surprise me. Will immediately stop being het up about this

i think if this rummor turns out to be true fine put it on the fatty stuff including milk and cheese if they want but drop the price of fruit and veg atleast that will balance out our pockets a bit but i dont realy think it going to happen there would be to much of a outcry on it and tony blair wants to be realected i dont think even hes that stupid (i hope)