The Indian state Kerala imposes what the media calls a "fat tax" on junk food served at fast food restaurants to combat obesity. And while it certainly is good that this tax is hitting junk food, the name "fat tax" is a quite misleading.
BBC News: Why Has an Indian State Imposed a 'Fat Tax'?Kerala is the first state in India to introduce a "fat tax" on burgers, pizzas, doughnuts and tacos served in branded restaurants.
All these products are equally full of bad carbs, and on top of that people usually drink sugar water with them. So the tax could conceivably just as well be called a "carb tax".
The word choice shows how outdated paradigms about fat being the cause of obesity still pervade. Is there a better name for the tax? Maybe a "junk food tax"?
