Taxes on Sugary Drinks & Discounts on Fresh Foods
Healthier Choices: Helping Poor Families Eat Better
According to Medical Xpress a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found a smart way to help poor families buy healthier groceries. They say that if we put taxes on sugary drinks and give discounts on fresh foods it could help families make better choices at the grocery store especially those without kids. This plan taxing unhealthy drinks and rewarding fresh foods not only fights against health problems caused by too much sugar but also helps poor families eat better and stay healthier.
READ ALSO: When food producers reduce sugar content, many buyers opt for sweeter alternatives
(PHOTO:SlidePlayer)Study Suggests Taxing Unhealthy Drinks and Rewarding Fresh Foods for Better Family Nutrition
Taxing for Good: Redirecting Funds for Healthier Eating
Dr. Shu Wen Ng who works at UNC-Chapel Hill thinks it’s important to use the money from taxes on unhealthy foods to give extra help to poor families. This way it’s fairer for everyone and it encourages people to pick healthier foods. Many countries already tax sugary drinks to promote health and this study suggests America should do the same. This research could influence new laws to help poor families eat healthier. Some new bills in Congress like the “GusNIP Expansion Act” and the “Opt for Health with SNAP (OH SNAP) Close the Fruit and Vegetable Gap Act,” talk about taxing unhealthy drinks and rewarding fresh foods is giving more discounts on healthy foods. If these ideas become laws it could help make sure everyone has a chance to eat well and stay healthy.
READ ALSO: Sweetened beverage taxes produce net economic benefits for lower-income communities
