http://www.boston.com/dailynews/166/world/New_Zealand_group_advocates_fa:.shtml

New Zealand group advocates fat tax on food

By Associated Press, 6/15/2001 03:12

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) A New Zealand nutritional group suggested Friday that food should be taxed according to its fat content in an effort to curb obesity.

More than half of all New Zealanders are overweight or obese, and obesity claims the lives of more than 1,000 people each year in this country of 4 million twice the number killed in traffic accidents, Agencies for Nutrition Action said Friday.

''We've got to take action,'' Agencies chief Sue Zimmerman told National Radio. ''We're saying if we don't include a really long-term commitment to prevention, we're going to be in trouble with this.''

While there isn't much evidence that higher taxes would keep people from buying high-fat foods, ''We're saying we should be looking at it,'' she said.

Zimmerman said, however, that she believed teaching people how to reduce fat in their diet may be a better way of handling the obesity problem.

''We make fantastic low-fat products in New Zealand but we need more incentive for their prices to be accessible to those people on low incomes,'' she said.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2001

Answers

Well, in this country they could start by building sidewalks so people could take a stroll in their neighborhood. Well, in some neighborhoods anyway.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2001

I'm picturing a bunch of fat people being chased by a pack of dogs running down Git's street.

ROTFLMAO

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2001

I really believe those dogs are owned by folks in neighborhoods all over town who let them out after dark, knowing Animal Control doesn't come out for loose dogs. Even owned dogs will pack together. Anyway, I don't think anybody walks after dark around here!

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2001