Romania considers junk food tax amid boom in obesity

Burgers, chips and fizzy drinks will also be targeted.

“We have to relearn how to eat,” a Health Ministry spokesman said.

The ministry says that, in marked contrast to the situation under communism, half of Romania’s 22 million people are overweight, while instances of obesity have doubled among 10-year-olds.

If the plan goes through, Romania will be aligning itself with – and even outdoing – other countries looking to crack down on fatty foods and encourage better eating choices.

Taiwan also recently floated a fast food tax, while Denmark and Austria have made artery-clogging trans-fats illegal. Britain, Norway and Sweden have banned junk food commercials from TV at certain times of the day, while Norway also taxes sugar and chocolate.

In the US Michelle Obama this month unveiled a public awareness campaign called “Let’s Move” to fight against childhood obesity, while both New York and California have gone on the legal offensive by outlawing trans-fats.

Critics of the Romanian proposals agree the government should stick to educating rather than taxing, especially during a recession. Some also criticise the government’s plans for exempting pizzas and kebabs and other potentially high-fat dishes, saying the exclusions showed the measure was a “McFat tax” – targeting certain Western fast food outlets – and not something that was truly meant to help the public.

Fast food franchises were not available under Communism, which was overthrown in 1989.