“A significant increase in the price of the most greasy products would have an influence on consumption,” said Urs Klemm, the government official responsible for food safety. “It could also encourage the food industry to be more sparing in the use of fatty products.” The paper said a tax could be used to pay for a government information campaign against obesity, which is poorly funded compared to programs against smoking and alcohol. On the other hand, the government lavishes subsidies on cheese and sugar beet, and a fat tax, the newspaper said, would certainly arouse the ire of cheese producers, cattle raisers and restaurant owners.
