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Denmark has introduced what is believed to be the world's first fat tax - a surcharge on foods that are high in saturated fat.

Butter, milk, cheese, pizza, meat, oil and processed food are now subject to the tax if they contain more than 2.3% saturated fat.

Some consumers began hoarding to beat the price rise, while some producers call the tax a bureaucratic nightmare.

Others suggest that many Danes will simply start shopping abroad.

Danish officials say they hope the new tax will help limit the population's intake of fatty foods.

However, some scientists think saturated fat may be the wrong target.

They say salt, sugar and refined carbohydrates are more detrimental to health and should be tackled instead.

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Originally posted by Kirkules:
I think the reason the Danes put up with high taxes is that they probably don't actually pay the majority of the taxes collected in Denmark. They see the benefits of paying higher taxes in better benefits from their socialist government and not as much of the down side. Most of the taxes in Denmark are probably collected from German tourists that from my experience seem to out number Danes ten to one during the summer season. We could be good socialists too if the Canadians and Mexicans would just become as hardworking and productive as the Germans. This tax does seem like shooting themselves if the foot though, dairy is one of their signature products and why they would do anything to hurt dairy farmers is beyond me. They should just raise the toll on the bridge from Københaven to the Jutland from its current $40 US(one way) to $100 and leave their last best industry alone.

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