Some people think the government should subsidize fruit and vegetables to make healthy food more affordable. Other argue that the government should tax unhealthy food instead. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Health issues arising from consuming an excessive amount of junk food are a cause of great concern in many countries. There are calls for the government to either reduce the prices of healthy foods through subsidies or to raise the costs of unhealthy products through taxation. In my opinion, a combination of the two is the best way forward. On the one hand, I agree that the tax option can help to reduce the consumption of potentially harmful foods.

For example

, in India, the price of soft drinks with high sugar content has increased.

However

, soft drink manufacturers have reacted by reducing sugar levels to just under the amount liable for tax;

therefore

, most people tend to buy

this

slightly healthier version without really changing their overall dietary habits that much.

Moreover

, it could be argued that

this

policy represents a kind of punishment for those consumers least able to seek better alternatives for financial reasons.

On the other hand

, Subsidizing healthy meals

such

as fruit and vegetable has,

therefore

, been proposed as a policy that would represent a reward rather than a punishment. Indeed,

this

strategy of passing on price reduction directly to the consumer seems to have a greater impact on eating habits, and I see it as an important step toward encouraging people to eat better.

However

, one drawback is that persuading the government to spend money, rather than collect it through taxation, is no simple matter. To conclude, I believe that the best way forward is to employ both strategies in tandem. Imposing a tax on unhealthy foods and drinks can discourage people from buying them, and the money raised can

then

be used to subsidize fruit and vegetables,

thus

making them more attractive to consumers.