‘ Meat Taxes ’ Would Save Lives And Cut Health Care Costs, Study Says

(CNN) — It would drive up the price of your barbecue but a global “meat tax” could save 220,000 lives and cut health care bills by $41 billion each year, according to a new study. The numbers are based on evidence that links meat consumption to increased risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Three years ago, the World Health Organization declared red meat such as beef, lamb and pork to be carcinogenic when eaten in processed forms, including sausages, bacon and beef jerky. Health officials have also declared that unprocessed red meat like steak and burgers are “probably” carcinogenic. Other carcinogens such as cigarettes and alcohol are regulated in order to reduce cases of chronic disease. A team of researchers led by Dr. Marco Springmann, from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at Oxford University, estimated the rate of tax that would be necessary to offset health care costs related to red meat consumption. “The least intrusive form of regulation is a tax to raise prices and reduce consumption,” Springmann told CNN. Researchers concluded that the UK government should introduce a tax of 79% on processed meat such as bacon, and 14% on unprocessed meat such as steak. In the US these numbers would be 163% and 34% respectively. “The tax is higher in the US due to an inefficient health system that wastes a lot of money,” said Springmann. They also calculated the projected impact of a so-called meat tax...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Offbeat Local TV Meat Source Type: news