Cake Decorating Business

What do you think about the proposed 'sugar tax'??

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29212780
I wondered what everyone’s views are on the proposed sugar tax that’s being called for in the uk? (see link above).
I totally agree we consume too much sugar, and it’s bad for your health in large quantities.
But I feel it’s hidden sugars that are the ones to cut down on first, and they are ones that are being controlled by the big food chains in general. But there’s a tiny suspicious part of me that’s also thinking it’s coming from somewhere else, and maybe I’m wrong but do you think that now many people are not smoking ‘real cigarettes’ any more that there is a drop in taxes so the government is trying to find other ways of pulling profit back??
Obviously if the tax does comes into affect our cake pricing will need to reflect that too……………
Which could mean what’s already seen as a luxury for most people might come further down the list of priorities.
What do you think??

karen,Gwynedd

15 Replies

I think it is a load of rubbish. They should be educating people on healthy eating and teaching control. A cake once or twice a week is not going to kill you, and is probably far less in the sugarstakes than cans of fizzy drinks etc. What will they think of taxing next?Hopefully this will all blow over, as I can’t see the likes of Cadburys etc sitting quietly.

gateaux de mandy

Hear hear Mandy… Totally agree…. Educating people and raising the awareness of bad sugars and allocated daily intakes will help things enormously…taxing sugar is not going to take the problem away, or reduce intake… There is so much sugar in products that are said to be healthy… Take muller light… It might be low on fat but it’s packed with sugar, which in turn turns to carbs and fat storage …. There is not enough information out there in educating people on sugar. The focus is on fat intake… Where sugar is as much, if not more dangerous….
Education education education… It starts in the home, with the parents, who then, by example, put the awareness in places with the kids . Schools lunches and the school shops also need to focus more as well as teaching the awareness of sugar to the children too.
Great debate :) thanks Karen

You must never limit your challenges, instead you must challenge your limits

I’m not from UK Karen, but I totally agree there’s more hidden sugar in daily products…the BAD kind…glucose, fructose, etc., that should be removed. But it won’t cause it’s dirt cheap. Govt won’t go after big business and have that removed. Refined white sugar, which I don’t keep in my house, is bad, but your body knows what to do with it in small amounts. As Mandy says….promote healthy eating. Companies could use organic cane sugar and price would be more expensive. That’s the problem, they know consumers wouldn’t buy as much…But those others…fructose….just deadly…. Tax won’t work….people do what they’ve learned….

Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God. Clarky's Cakes 😎

I hope they don’t put the prices up, as I import all of my fondant from the Uk.

gateaux de mandy

Thank you ladies for joining in, I totally agree with everything your saying. Anyway they can reap in tax is what they will go for. You’re right Cadburys and drinks companies won’t buckle under. And if we’re looking at harmful sweeteners we should also be looking at those in artificial sweeteners which have been linked to problems like Alzheimer’s (something which those of you who know about me will be aware of is dominant in my family). It’ll hopefully fizzle out as you say and then they can think of something else to tax……………children’s clothes probably!!!

karen,Gwynedd

Gee….maybe tax AIR Karen….after all we all need to breathe, don’t we??

Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God. Clarky's Cakes 😎

Totally agree Jchuck, but as long as they leave the booze alone, as we do need some pleasures occasionally. I reckon that should tax men’s razors, as at present they are not taxed (Vat) as they are classed as essential. Yeah as if!!!!! I bet a man wrote that getout clause.

gateaux de mandy

Ha Ha…your right Mandy…

Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God. Clarky's Cakes 😎

LOL!! Is that true about razors?? there you go……..it’s still a man’s world (or at least that’s what we like them to think…….) xx

karen,Gwynedd

Yes it is true (unless they have changed the Vat rules in the last 8 years). But what is even more infuriating is that women’s sanitary products do have Vat on them and are classed as “luxury” items. I leave this can of worms well and truly opened.

gateaux de mandy