This, according to a post today on Worstpizza.com.
The AMA recently published an article that calls for a "fat tax" to be levied on pizza, soda, and other supposed junk foods. The flat 18 percent tax would, according to the article, deter people from eating high-calorie, low-nutrition foods like pizza and soda. In the long run, the article claims, the tax would save more than $147 million in health care costs. Obesity-related health care costs currently total about 9.1 percent of the total health care expenses in the country.
Lapp of Worst Pizza goes on to criticize the article
for being misinformed. Sure, cheap, fast-food pizzas made in chain
restaurants aren't exactly great for you. But pizza on the whole is a
complete and nutritious food when made properly. Just about every food
group is represented on pies (yes, even fruit: mmm, pear and
Gorgonzola!), and most nonmeat toppings are quite healthful. According to
him, the AMA would be a lot better off gunning for burgers or hot dogs.
Not to mention there's a high level of hypocrisy at play suggesting the
government tax the foods it currently subsidizes the most: Corn (from
which high fructose corn syrup is made) and wheat (crust, duh!) are two
of the most heavily subsidized crops in the U.S. today.
