- Tax the marketing and sale of unhealthful foods. Another budget booster. This isn’t nanny-state paternalism but an accepted role of government: public health. If you support seat-belt, tobacco and alcohol laws, sewer systems and traffic lights, you should support legislation curbing the relentless marketing of soda and other foods that are hazardous to our health — including the sacred cheeseburger and fries.
- Mandate truth in labeling. Nearly everything labeled “healthy” or “natural” is not. It’s probably too much to ask that “vitamin water” be called “sugar water with vitamins,” but that’s precisely what real truth in labeling would mean.
Now, go read the rest.
Truth in advertising is an interesting issue. I like the first option you listed. I'm not sure if you have seen the advertisements for 5-Hour Energy but they more or less say "becoming addicted to our product is the only way to get through your day." I do not mind them advertising this way but I do believe the government should reward those who are promoting a product in a positive way. Either through tax breaks or taxing those who advertise and sell these unhealthy products. Thanks for point me to this article.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Philip. I have heard the 5-hour energy commercial a few times. Vitamins and minerals occur in a lot of fruits and vegetables, in a more absorptive form. Because they throw derivative vitamins into a liquid caffeine punch doesn't mean that they should be able to claim its similarity or connection in any way to real food. But, that's advertising.
ReplyDelete