'Fat tax' gets thumbs down

1.00pm

The Government and the National Party have rejected renewed calls by campaigners for a "fat tax" on unhealthy foods.

Two groups, Diabetes New Zealand and Fight the Obesity Epidemic, yesterday released a report which they said showed a tax on fatty foods and soft drinks was "viable and justified" and the only way to make a difference.

A spokesman for Health Minister Annette King today told NZPA it was not on the agenda.

"The Government is absolutely opposed...we don't believe in coercion, we believe in education," he said.

National's associate health spokesman Paul Hutchison said obesity had to be fought, but a tax was not the answer.

"They're dead wrong that a tax is the only way," he said on National Radio.

Dr Hutchison said the principle behind any campaign against obesity had to be choice, freedom and knowledge.

A tax on unhealthy foods would also be very difficult to implement because of the wide variety available, he said.

The report produced by the anti-obesity groups said education strategies alone were not enough.

It suggested $1 billion a year could be raised through a tax which could be used to pay for the treatment of obesity-related conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

- NZPA