introduction section of the research

November5,2018

Literature Review

“Legal and Administrative Feasibility of a Federal Junk Food and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax to Improve Diet” is an article by Promeranz, Wilde, Huang, Micha, and Mozaffarian (2018) that discusses the need for imposing taxes on junk food and sugar-sweetened beverages as a way to discourage poor feeding habits and endorse healthy ones. The authors argue that society has adopted poor eating habits that lead to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes 1 and 2 among others. Febfast (2014), note that the rate of obesity has also increased owing to the consumption of junk food and sweetened drinks. From the point of view of Promeranz et al., this consumption rate can be controlled through the endorsement of guiding principles that dictate the cost of these items.

Promeranz and peers observe that junk food is highly consumed because it has amassed recognition political acceptance. Febfast (2014) argue that despite their imbalanced nutritional content, most people opt to consume junk foods and sweetened beverages because they charm the human basic needs. According to them, these food items excite the incentive system in the human brain, which peaks the desire to consume them. The body discharges ‘feel-good’ chemicals that encourage the feeding consumption habits, hence the reason why processed foods have increased in popularity. On the other hand, Caraher and Cowburn (2005) argue that people consume unhealthy foods because they are more affordable. As such, they note that healthy foods are more expensive for the low-income population. However true this point could be, it is observable that the high-income population still opt for this kind of foods and drinks because they can afford them. Besides the need to tantalize their taste buds, there is the general attitude that society has towards junk food and sweetened sugars that dictates their tendency. This inclination is caused by the busy lifestyle that people lead, which leaves them with no time to prepare healthy meals for the family and have time to rest, hence their option for the unhealthy choice.

Introducing taxes on junk food and sweetened drinks will push prices up so that consumers will have no choice but to adapt to healthy feeding habits. Manufacturers will also be compelled to produce healthier foods (Franck, Grandi, & Eisenberg, 2013). Promeranz et al. (2018) believe that imposing taxes on junk foods and sweetened drinks could discourage purchasing habits. The Lancet (2017) reinforces this idea by illustrating how countries such as Mexico have recorded an impressive decline in sales of junk foods and sweetened drinks after the imposition of food taxes. In the article, The Lancet claims that the sales of bottled water for example, increased instead of sugary drinks (2017). In Berkeley, USA, The Lancet notes that the same move resulted in decreased sales of sugary drinks within four months.

However, Frank et al., (2013) argue that the hope of encouraging healthy feeding in society could pose a challenge. As such, they cite the issue of availability of enough healthy products to feed the growing society. In their study, Caraher and Cowburn (2005) observe that increasing prices on unhealthy food items and sweetened drinks negatively affects the low-income population whose hope for a meal is placed here. In The Lancet’s article, the essayist notes that in regions where food tax has been introduced, low-income neighborhoods record a massive decline in purchase habits and consumption. In their research, Caraher and Cowburn (2005) also discover that food taxes can lead to ugly riots such as the historical ‘mob behavior’ recorded in the English society and other European countries. The topic of food taxes could also face resistance from opposers who pose the major beneficiaries in the unhealthy foods system (Franck, Grandi, & Eisenberg, 2013).

References

Caraher, M., & Cowburn, G. (May 10, 2005). Taxing food: implications for public health nutrition. Public Health Nutrition: 8(8), 1242-1249. DOI:10.1079/PHN2005755

Febfast. (August 25, 2014). How Does Junk Food Contribute to our Obesity Epidemic? Retrieved from https://www.febfast.org.au/blog/how-does-junk-food-contribute-to-our-obesity-epidemic

Franck, C., Grandi, S. M., & Eisenberg, M. J. (2013). Taxing junk food to counter obesity. American journal of public health, 103(11), 1949-1953.

Pomeranz, J., Wilde, P., Huang, Y., Micha, R., & Mozaffarian, D. (February, 2018). Legal and Administrative Feasibility of a Federal Junk Food and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax to Improve Diet. AJPH Law & Ethics, Vol. 108, No. 2.

The Lancet. (April, 2017). Sweet success: will sugar taxes improve health? Vol 5(4) p235 Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(17)30070-0/fulltext?code=lancet-site

]