France goes after fatty snacks with 'Nutella tax'
Despite an outcry in support of the beloved chocolate and hazelnut spread, the Senate passed a measure Wednesday that would triple the tax on palm and some other vegetable oils in the hope of cutting down on obesity.
The "Nutella tax" would affect any foods made with those oils and bring in about €40 million ($51 million).
The measure is part of a bigger bill on financing the national health care system and aims to push manufacturers to use healthier alternatives.
But Frederic Thil, the head for France of Ferrero, which makes the spread, told Le Parisien newspaper that the recipe won't change.
The lower house of parliament still has to vote on the tax.
I think that little bit in there about financing their national health care system is probably at the heart of this whole thing. Â They couldn't get the 75% tax on the ultra-wealthy passed and it takes money to float a system like that. Â
Obama's fault
Huh?  I was just there a few weeks ago and saw literally not one fat person (besides obvious  tourists).  There is no obesity problem there, despite the foods they eat, because they eat in moderation.  A nutella crepe is like the national street food and rightly so, it is delicious!
 @Doxie I used to think it was because they smoked, but statistically, we smoke more than the French.  I think it's because they do a LOT of walking and don't snack constantly they way we do.
 @belsnickles They do smoke a LOT, but you're right, they eat purposefully.  Not a lot of mindless eating, and what they eat is really good and normal portions.  Lots of fresh foods, and even though it is quite rich, it is served in smaller quantities.  They do walk a lot, but it's more of a stroll or 'mosey', but still more than many do here.
They don't do this kind of thing to combat obesity. They do this because "Hey look!!! A lot of people use these products. If we tax them we can make a butt load of money!!!!!" Same reason the U.S. puts a high tax on cigarettes, chew, and alcohol.
Umm...can you say "fois gras"? LIke Nutella is the only fattening thing in the French diet?? Hello...the French diet has plenty of fat in it. Why would you target one product-except for maybe the fact that it's not made in France??
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 @Fir Queen Yeah...
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"...the Senate passed a measure Wednesday that would triple the tax on palm and some other vegetable oils in the hope of cutting down on obesity. The "Nutella tax" would affect any foods made with those oils and bring in about â¬40 million ($51 million)."
You know you have created a very successful product if they name a tax after it, way to go Nutella ! (Ferrero)
This is what America is looking forward too.Â
This is discriminatory. Skinny people are being discriminated against and unfairly taxed because fat people can't figure out how to control their eating habits.
 @Sovereign you don't get it, this tax is to limit the use of palm oil, this culture is destroying the habitat of a lot of animal including orang outan.
the companies in charge of palm oil production are just evil and will never do something to prevent the disparition of an undangered spiece.
Nice move France !
 @drek  @Sovereign it says nothing about orang utans in there, it says specifically "obesity".
 @Barlion  @drek  @Sovereign I believe you, but that's not what this tax is about. I was just challenging drek's statement that starts with a little insult: "you don't get it" ...
 @Komo Dragon  @drek  @Sovereign Thousands of acres of rainforest in Borneo and Sumatra get slashed and burned every year to make way for palm oil plantations. It doesn't have to say something about Orang Utans. Fact is they are affected by palm oil.
 @drek  @Sovereign And killing babies is OK.
we need this bad.... way to go france
 @ballardanian You want to control obesity? Don't tax food. Just ban television, the internet, and auto mobiles. Problem solved.
 @Barlion  @ballardanian Hey, don't give them any ideas.
 @ballardanian So you want our Government to control us and tell us what we can and can't put in our bodies.
 @Tacobender50  @ballardanian for some people who can't eat moderately yes