Tax Meat

It took a long time for people to realize the dangers of smoking, and now, to discourage people from harming themselves, we put a heavy tax and warning labels on tobacco products.

The three major health problems of today are heart disease, cancer and obesity, and medical professionals are now beginning to realize the association of these problems with excessive meat and dairy consumption.

According to the American Heart Association, the leading cause of death is heart disease, and most heart disease is diet-related, caused by the consumption of animal products. Those who eat more than the FDA’s recommended amounts are at the greatest risk.

The American Cancer Society points out that about one-third of the 500,000 cancer deaths that occur each year in the United States are  due to dietary factors, and their recommendations are to limit our intake of high-fat foods from animal sources and to eat more fruits and veggies.

And according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vegetarians are 66 percent less likely to become obese.

The problem is getting worse because, according to the USDA’s statistics, the average American is consuming almost twice the FDA’s recommended amounts. Therefore, it’s not surprising that more and more people are having these problems, and our health care costs are increasing.

A tax and warning labels on meat and dairy products would encourage people to consume less and help reduce our skyrocketing health care costs. The revenue from the tax could be used to fund educational programs about health benefits of reducing meat and dairy consumption.

Harold R. WIlson
Corydon, Ind.