Unhealthy Food Temptations..

Every time I go to Costco, I pass by the Sabatasso's pizza in the fridge section. It always looked so tempting, cheesy and delicious. I have resisted buying it several times, telling myself, no, not this time.

But during my last visit, they were giving out samples to taste and honestly it tasted great when I tried. I finally gave in and picked up the box. As I stood in line to bill, I noticed a Health Canada label saying “High in sodium and saturated fat.” This warning hit me harder than expected and I thought to myself that if the government itself says it’s unhealthy, then why is it even being sold or so easily available? Isn’t it the government’s responsibility to protect people’s health or perhaps discourage unhealthy consumptions?

We all know that too much salt, sugar, and fat leads to serious health problems like cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes or even cancer. There are so many studies proving it.

So why do food authorities still approve these products? It feels like slow poisoning that doesn’t harm you immediately, but it damages your health little by little.

If there are strict rules for alcohol, drugs, and smoking because they are harmful, why not for junk food?

People always say, “It is okay if you eat such things in moderation”. But let’s be honest, that is not easy in today’s world. Everywhere we go, it is cheap and more convenient to eat unhealthy food. A big frozen pizza or burger meal costs less than a bowl of salad or some fresh fruits. So in a way the system itself is pushing people towards bad food choices.

If the government can’t outright ban unhealthy food, instead of simply just having a Health Canada warning, at least make it less attractive to discourage consumers from going for it. Why not put a higher tax on foods that are high (beyond an acceptable limit) in sodium, sugar, or saturated fats (or similar harmful ingredients)? If these products cost more, people would think twice before buying it.

The extra money from such taxes could be used to make healthy food cheaper or in other government funded public health initiatives. The same is applied for example on cigarettes where taxes are generally higher due to public health goals and the need for government revenue. Why not do the same with junk food?

We hear every day that more people are getting cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Most of it comes from what we eat and how we live. Governments spend billions treating these diseases. But if they focused more on prevention like controlling harmful food they could save both money and lives.

I did not buy the pizza that day. I put it back but the thought stayed in my mind.

If something is unhealthy enough to carry a warning label, maybe it shouldn’t be this easy to buy. I am not asking for ban on all tasty food but at least make people aware and make healthy food more affordable and convenient to buy than the relatively harmful ones. Right now, it feels like we are slowly being poisoned and we are even paying for it ourselves.

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