Why We Can’t Resist Junk Food?
We all have our favorite snacks and treats that we just can’t resist. Junk food is a staple in many people’s diets, and it’s easy to understand why. Junk food makes up 15% of all calories consumed in the United States, and it’s no secret that many of us can’t resist its tempting flavors. But have you ever wondered what exactly makes a food “junk”?
Defining Junk Food: An Analysis of Health-Related Policies
A recent analysis conducted by researchers at the NYU School of Global Public Health and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts examines the criteria that define “junk food” for health-related policies like taxes. This analysis found that the lack of uniformity in defining “junk food” has hindered public health policies to tackle the overconsumption of unhealthy foods.
Criteria for Defining Junk Food: Food Category, Processing, and Nutrients
The study analyzed 47 laws and bills from 1991 through 2021 that defined categories of food for taxation or other related regulatory purposes, with the researchers identifying common criteria used to define junk food. These criteria included food category, processing, and nutrients such as salt, sugar, and saturated fat.
Examples of Policies Using a Combined Approach to Regulate Junk Food
Policies that used a combined approach to define junk food, which included multiple criteria, were found to be more effective, with the Navajo Nation junk food tax providing an example of such a policy. The Navajo Nation junk food tax is an excise tax paid by manufacturers or distributors on foods containing minimal to no nutritional value. It is estimated to generate $1.5 million annually in revenue and has been shown to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks and snacks among Navajo Nation residents.
The Feasibility and Potential Benefits of Implementing Junk Food Taxes
The study also found that there is a need for more uniformity in defining junk food, as different policies use different criteria to define the same food items. For example, the state of Maine defines candy as a product that contains sugar and is not a beverage, while the city of Berkeley, California, defines candy as a product that contains more than 2.3 grams of sugar per serving. These inconsistencies make it difficult for consumers to know which foods are considered junk food and for policymakers to implement effective regulations.
The Effectiveness of Combining Criteria in Defining Junk Food
Defining “junk food” is an important step in implementing health-related policies such as taxes to reduce consumption and promote healthier options. By analyzing three decades of U.S. food policies, researchers at NYU School of Global Public Health and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts found that a combination of food category, processing, and nutrients are used to determine which foods should be subject to regulation. The study identified common threads between existing policies and highlighted the feasibility and potential benefits of implementing junk food taxes as excise taxes paid by manufacturers or distributors.
As food products are reformulated and new ones are introduced each year, defining foods to be taxed is not a static exercise but an essential tool for steering consumers towards healthier options and encouraging healthy innovations in the food industry. With a more uniform definition of junk food and policies that use a combined approach to define it, we can create a healthier food environment for everyone.
Conclusion: Defining Junk Food as a Tool for Promoting Healthier Options
In conclusion, the study’s findings suggest that policymakers should prioritize the implementation of a uniform definition of “junk food” and use a combined approach to define it based on food category, processing, and nutrients. By doing so, we can create more effective health-related policies such as junk food taxes that reduce consumption and promote healthier options. The potential benefits are numerous, including improved public health outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and a healthier food environment for all.
