Kerala, India, has placed a tax on hamburgers, pizza and other fast food. The 14.5 percent tax will be added to foods at restaurants such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Burger King.
The tax is being called a "fat tax" because it adds cost to foods considered high in fat and calories. It is the first fast food tax enacted in India, where obesity levels are rising in the growing middle class.
Kerala's Finance Minister Thomas Isaac suggested the tax after learning of similar measures in other countries. He hopes it will get people to choose to eat healthy food, which he said is "going out of fashion."
Dr. Anoop Misra at New Delhi's Fortis Hospital strongly supports the" fat tax" as a way to reduce the number of diabetes cases in young people.
A government finance official in central Gujarat says that the state is considering a similar 14.5 percent tax." This idea can also be adopted in the state, as we also have high consumption of junk and unhealthy food," the official said.
Critics of the tax say it probably will not stop people from buying fast food. IT engineer Gaurav Singh wants the government to focus on education and awareness instead of taxing fast food.
"The one food that is eaten widely in Kerala is the 'paratha', which is basically high in fat, high in refined(精制的)flour, and it is cheap. It can't be taxed because it is highly unorganized."
Some doctors and health experts say the tax should also include other snack foods and sugary drinks sold across the country.
One fast food customer In New Dehli, Vijay Deoli believes the government should deal with more important issues. "First you have to clear up the air, the water, etc. This is a small thing."
Others say the government should do more to bring attention to fast food and obesity rather than changing people's choices.
Many health experts agree that bringing attention to the issue is important. But Dr. Misra thinks education alone does not work.
He compared the tax to a law passed several years ago that got people to wear seat belts to avoid paying a fine. "Laws can change people's habits."
