Danish Tax on Fatty Foods Improves Health

A Danish tax on foods high in saturated fat, including meat and dairy products, improved the nation’s health, according to research published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers assessed the effects of the tax and the resulting dietary changes and compared the consumption of fats, salt, fiber, and fruits and vegetables with disease risk. Overall, the Danish people decreased their saturated fat consumption by 4 percent but increased their intake of vegetables and fiber by 7.9 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively. Researchers predict these changes could save up to 123 lives a year by reducing preventable deaths from chronic disease caused by lifestyle, including cardiovascular disease.