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

Health issues arising from consuming excessive amounts of junk food are a cause of great concern in many countries. There are calls for governments 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
, the so-called “sugar tax” imposed in the UK on soft drinks with a high sugar content has had some positive effects.
However
, soft drink manufacturers have reacted by reducing sugar levels to just under the amount liable for tax and,
as a result
, most people tend to buy
this
slightly healthier version without really changing their overall dietary habits that much.
Furthermore
, it could be argued that
this
policy represents a kind of punishment for those consumers least able to seek better alternatives for financial reasons. Subsidising healthy
foods
such
as fruit and vegetables has,
therefore
, been proposed as a policy that would represent a reward rather than a punishment. Indeed,
this
strategy of passing on price reductions directly to the consumer seems to have a greater impact on eating habits, and I see it as an important step towards encouraging people to eat better. Of course, one drawback is that persuading governments 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 subsidise fruit and vegetables,
thus
making them more attractive to consumers.
Submitted by diya.afrin00 on

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Topic Vocabulary:
  • subsidise
  • affordable
  • public health
  • healthcare costs
  • diet-related illnesses
  • agricultural sector
  • taxing
  • discourages
  • consumption
  • funds
  • redirected
  • health programs
  • educational campaigns
  • balanced approach
  • comprehensive solution
  • financial deterrent
  • societal shift
  • eating habits
  • effective
  • drawbacks
  • economic impact
  • low-income individuals
  • consumer behavior
  • administrative feasibility
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