It becomes the public's business because we end up paying for the health care costs associated with peoples poor nutritional choices. Obesity- related diseases are amongst the top health care costs nationwide.
Perhaps the junk food tax should be used to subsidize healthy foods, especially in schools. The sad truth is that pop, chips, candy, and fast food are cheaper per calorie than healthy foods. In light of this, it is no surprise that low income correlates to poor health.
When I was in high school, I would choose the $1 bag of chips over the $6 whole wheat chicken wrap (one hour of work paid for 6 "lunches" - sounds good to a 16 year old!). Unfortunately my parents couldn't be trusted to talk to me about healthy choices or provide them at home, as you are idealistically stating "should" happen. If sense was common then a junk food tax would not be justified.
It becomes the public's business because we end up paying for the health care costs associated with peoples poor nutritional choices. Obesity- related diseases are amongst the top health care costs nationwide.
Perhaps the junk food tax should be used to subsidize healthy foods, especially in schools. The sad truth is that pop, chips, candy, and fast food are cheaper per calorie than healthy foods. In light of this, it is no surprise that low income correlates to poor health.
When I was in high school, I would choose the $1 bag of chips over the $6 whole wheat chicken wrap (one hour of work paid for 6 "lunches" - sounds good to a 16 year old!). Unfortunately my parents couldn't be trusted to talk to me about healthy choices or provide them at home, as you are idealistically stating "should" happen. If sense was common then a junk food tax would not be justified.