Comparative analysis of consumer and business operators attitudes concerning the introduction of a “harmful foods” tax Cover Image

Сравнителен анализ на нагласите на бизнес-оператори и потребители относно въвеждането на данък “вредни храни”
Comparative analysis of consumer and business operators attitudes concerning the introduction of a “harmful foods” tax

Author(s): Yana Toshkova, Tsvetelina Tarpomanova, Dimitar Yanchev, Marinela Petkova
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Sociology, Evaluation research, Health and medicine and law, EU-Legislation, Commercial Law
Published by: Издателство на Медицински университет “Проф. д-р П. Стоянов“ - Варна
Keywords: public health tax; “harmful food” tax; consumer; business operator; harmful ingredients

Summary/Abstract: Increased consumption of processed foods leads to an increased use of energy-rich food with a high content of hydrogenated fats, sugars and salt, which is a prerequisite for the development of some socially significant chronic diseases. In this regard, a bill for public health tax (PHT) has been drafted in Bulgaria. The purpose of this paper is to compare the position of consumers and food and beverage business operators on the introduction of the “harmful food” tax. More than half of the respondents (56.5%) approve, while 56.8% of the producers oppose the introduction of such a tax. The majority of the two groups believe that taxation will lead to an increase in the price of the products concerned. According to 58.4% of consumers, the tax will limit the production of foods containing harmful ingredients. This opinion is maintained by only 15.6% of the producers. A change in food choices after introducing appropriate marking would be made by 70% of consumers, but more than half of the business operators have doubts about this choice. Therefore, it would be most appropriate for our country to define norms of the quantitative content of hydrogenated fats, sugars and salt.

  • Issue Year: 2018
  • Issue No: 3-4
  • Page Range: 35-37
  • Page Count: 3
  • Language: Bulgarian