re: #539 bosforus

Drive by post - why not a salt tax? IMO, reducing America’s salt intake would probably go further for health benefits than reducing sugar intake.
One serving of Hamburger Helper’s Cheddar & Broccoli has 29% of your required Sodium. This is typical of this type of meal.

Sodium intake only affects hypertension in a small percentage of the population. The majority see little or no effect from reducing dietary salt - the only thing that helps is medication. Many doctors reach straight for the pills these days, and view dietary restrictions to be a waste of time.

Also, even allowing that there are some whose blood pressure can be ameliorated through diet, the government shouldn’t be in the business of forcing outcomes. Educating the populace is a worthwhile undertaking, but forcing behavioral changes through taxation or other means is undesirable.