By Thomas Braun,
Contributing Editor

Why the uproar over taxes on beverages?

The average per capita consumption of all types of sugar in the US has reached over 160 pounds of sugar per year, with liquid corn syrup being the number one sugar source. Considering the fact that I don’t drink pop very much, maybe a can a month means someone is making up for my dislike for liquid corn syrup which is heavily contributing to the obesity problem in this country. Now, Mayor Bloomberg of New York City who is independently wealthy and does not have to cow to special interests has announced that the government food subsidy to those out of work and the working poor should exclude beverages that contribute to the health and obesity problems of the poor who eventually become a burden on a healthcare system that is running out of money. It has generated a real uproar, because many of the corn growers, the corn manufacturers as well as beverage manufactures and distributors as well as retailers and many others whose profits are derived from selling these sweet drinks to the American consumer see their profits and revenues declining if this event happens.

To learn more about this crisis, all you have to do is go to http://www.nofoodtaxes.com and you will sense the fear that is creeping into the liquid corn syrup industry and their allies. They are mustering the finest word smiths to put a positive spin on why it is not good to tax beverages that create health problems.

In fact, the liquid corn syrup producers have already petitioned the FDA to allow them to change the ingredient label on foods that contain liquid corn syrup to the new buzz word called “corn sugar”. This would be much more palatable to the American consumer and would lessen the decline of sales of food and beverage products containing liquid corn syrup.

Several years ago, I went to Europe for a vacation and spent two weeks eating a great variety of European foods which contained little or no sugar. The deserts I had only had a hit of sugar. This is the way Europeans like their sweets, with just a hint of sweetness. When I returned, I had my annual physical and too my amazement, my blood sugar fasting level was 79. It hasn’t been that good since then. Today it is around 100, and in the general scheme of things it is considered high normal. The fact that I don’t drink pop, means that the other sources of sugar and liquid corn syrup are hidden in food products that I consume. To name a few, they are in catsup, maple syrup, saltine crackers, bread, salad dressing and the list goes on and on. Just read the labels. The liquid corn syrup is cheaper than sugar, even though both sugar and liquid corn syrup is subsidized by the government.

Rather than tax the beverages, all that has to be done is to get the politicians to vote to remove all subsidies on sugar and corn products and let the market place decide what the consumer is willing to pay for. It’s also a way of reducing the tax payer’s burden. That’s pie in the sky when you consider the political funds that come from the food industry that the politicians need to stay in office. I admire Mayor Bloomberg for his stance on not letting food stamps pay for the source of unhealthy life styles. The government could go one step further and abandon the WIC program which makes it easy for women to decide not to nurse their new born. Mother’s milk contains natural immune boosting nutrients that the infant desperately needs until its own immune system matures, which takes more than a year. The aggressive vaccination medical mindset seems to ignore this reality. WIC is the government subsidy of baby formula to the poor that benefits Abbott and Mead Johnson pharmaceutical companies who sell the WIC baby formula products.

It doesn’t benefit the babies, because if it did, we would not have an infant mortality status with third world countries. Our rank the last time I looked was 43rd in the world, with number 1 being the country with the least number of infant mortalities. Considering we spend twice as much per capita on healthcare than any other country just reinforces the fact that we are not addressing the healthcare issues in Washington properly. All pregnant women should be given a mandatory Vitamin D blood test to determine if they are deficient. If they are, their new born nine months later will also be deficient, and will be unhealthy as well. Consequently, the infant mortality program can be partially solved if all pregnant women were measured for their Vitamin D level while pregnant and then they need to take Vitamin D during pregnancy to avoid health problems with the new born. It was only a few years back when the medical profession woke up to the fact that women who were deficient in folic acid had a higher chance of having a baby born with spinal bifida. Today, the rate of spinal bifida problems has been greatly reduced. How long will it take for the medical profession to wake to the fact that sufficient Vitamin D is also essential to the new born?

To keep this issue about obesity and excess sugar consumption in balance, an authoritative website where you will learn about the ills of excess sugar is: http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com

Only through education and changes in our nutritional system in the United Sates can we expect to decrease the mortality level of infants and children and their associated illnesses such as cancer that too many of our children are being burdened with. The obesity problem can be fixed if the sugar barons don’t win the battle.

I’m waiting for our medical leadership to start leading and not following to make this happen.

Thomas A. Braun RPh
Retired but not senile yet.

Copyright © 2010 Thomas Braun

T. Braun, Pharmacist, Buyer, Marketing Executive for a Major Drug Chain. Active for over 45 years in Pharmacy. Tom would like to hear from you at tbran10@hotmail.com

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