Health Minister rules out ‘fat tax’ on junk food

HEALTH Minister Micheál Martin has ruled out the introduction of a ‘fat tax’ on junk food in the near future.

The minister previously said he would consider proposals to place a levy on fatty foods to encourage healthy eating and combat obesity. The idea sparked a wave of criticism that such a tax would disproportionately affect poorer people and suggestions that it was another example of the Government desire to control people’s lives as a ‘nanny state’.

Mr Martin says that although he welcomes the debate on the issue as it has prompted greater consumer awareness, he has no immediate plans to bring forward the tax. At this point, the proposal is still at an embryonic stage, he said.