should we tax salt?
False
Cardiology
should we tax salt?
Read and join discussion threads related to cardiology
A study was presented at the world congress of cardiology that suggests that cutting the salt in processed food by 10% and taxing high salt content foods by up to 40% (ie like tobacco) would reduce C
0
Cat:OpenClinicalForum:083a12c9-861a-4a42-a5af-ddc3263b34bc
Cat:OpenClinicalForum:083a12c9-861a-4a42-a5af-ddc3263b34bcDiscussion:5dd9b228-d325-4939-9c66-b703bf714da1
Forums » Open clinical » Cardiology » should we tax salt?
|
should we tax salt?
posted at 30/4/2012 8:51 AM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 873
First: 17/6/2011 Last: 17/5/2013 |
A study was presented at the world congress of cardiology that suggests that cutting the salt in processed food by 10% and taxing high salt content foods by up to 40% (ie like tobacco) would reduce CVD deaths by 3% - doesn't seem like a huge amount but given the numbers involved this equates to 500000 lives saved! |
|
Re: should we tax salt?
posted at 30/4/2012 9:16 AM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 2035
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 19/5/2013 |
How would this play in India? The Salt Tax, first imposed by the British East India Company, continued to be a contentious issue until Gandhi led the Salt March as a focus of the Indian Independence movement. The civil disobedience campaign that followed eventually led to the modern Indian State. In the UK, the Poll Tax had been in use, on and off, for more than 600 years, when it was reintroduced as the "Community Charge" to replace the local council 'rates' tax. This perfectly reasonable fiscal measure was badly mishandled and led to the Poll Tax Riots of 1990 that were a part in the downfall of Margaret Thatcher. The philosophers Socrates, Burke and Santayana all said, or something like it, "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it" Let's not forget. John |
|
|
Re: should we tax salt?
posted at 30/4/2012 4:14 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 3037
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 18/5/2013 |
I do agree with John D in this respect. There has not been sufficient & strongly favoring, meaning 100% sure data to our popular concept of linking ?adverse effects of salt intake to hypertensive or cardiovascular events. What is 100% established is the fact that salt intake is necessary for us to be alive, just as water is. |
|
|
Re: should we tax salt?
posted at 30/4/2012 4:24 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
|
Posts: 873
First: 17/6/2011 Last: 17/5/2013 |
I agree with what you say about history JohnD but India now has the unfortunately India now has the title of heart disease and diabetes capital of the world - this can't be right surely? Taxes do get a lot of political and personal attention. I don't believe that voluntary codes work . I vote for the tax! sadian |
|
|
Re: should we tax salt?
posted at 30/4/2012 6:27 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 640
First: 2/2/2011 Last: 18/5/2013 |
Interesting facts Gilgit Baltistan (Pakistan) is a spectacular region in terms of geography and scenic beauty. The world`s 3 mightiest mountain ranges meet here. The population is 1.8 millions. Here, people use salt in Tea instead of sugar since unknown period of time. People have robust health & physique, life span is more here than the rest of Pakistan.
|
|
|
Re: should we tax salt?
posted at 2/5/2012 1:33 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
|
Posts: 873
First: 17/6/2011 Last: 17/5/2013 |
I don't believe that there will ever be 'proof' that too much salt is bad for your CVS and I know that studies like INTERSALT have been heavily criticised but we are never going to be able to do a randomised trial of force feeding/withholding salt. I for one am convinced by the 'circumstantial' evidence - people can do whatever they want in their own homes but how many people really understand what food labelling means? If manufacturers won't cut the salt voluntarily then we need taxes to 'persuade' them! sadian |
|
|
Re: should we tax salt?
posted at 3/5/2012 8:28 AM BST
on bmj.com
|
|
Posts: 2035
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 19/5/2013 |
In Response to Re: should we tax salt?: NO! this is nonsense. Salt is a naturally occuring mineral.DuaneF Posted by DuaneF So is arsenic. John |
|
|
Re: should we tax salt?
posted at 3/5/2012 5:37 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 1280
First: 9/12/2011 Last: 14/5/2013 |
Yes John D, but we also do not put Uranium and Arsenic on our foods, Nor should we tax Air. Too much Taxation W/O representation led to the Boston Tea Party! Remember that Old chap? DuaneF In Response to Re: should we tax salt?: In Response to Re: should we tax salt? : So is arsenic. John
Posted by John D |
Forums » Open clinical » Cardiology » should we tax salt?
