Tax Law Commons^™

Taxing Food And Beverage Products: A Public Health Perspective And A New Strategy For Prevention, Jennifer L. Pomeranz

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The power to tax and spend is considered a primary government power, and the use thereof is associated with great public health achievements. The greatest public health challenge at present stems from the increase in obesity and chronic diseases due to poor nutrition. Several taxation strategies have emerged in the health and economic literature to raise revenue, deter consumption, and address food prices and obesity directly. These proposals include taxing obese individuals, taxing problematic food products, and instituting a tax based on certain food components. This article weighs each proposal's value and disadvantages and concludes by proposing a new tax …