Will new nutrition labels lead to healthier consumers?

The FDA is set to impose major changes to nutrition labels on food packages for the first time in over 20 years. The organization sites the need to bring labels up to speed with the contemporary American diet as a catalyst for the change. New labels are meant to be easier to understand and will be based on expanded portion sizes. Added sugars are in the center of the change with new labels making the distinction between natural and manufactured sugar additives. Many in the FDA and other nutritionists explain that the expensive change is necessary in the fight against obesity in the US. Even First Lady Michelle Obama praised the initiative and promoted the changes at the anniversary celebration for her “Let’s Move” campaign aimed at reducing obesity.

Consumers have a right to know what they are putting into their body. However, some new label requirements could force food and beverage companies to put nutritional information both good and bad on the front of their packaging. Could this potentially impact the branding and packaging of these products? What about products high in added sugar? Does this change damage their brand? What impact will these changes have on the way consumers view food and beverage products? 

Digitally Amputating Limbs?

What are your thoughts on the ad from New York's health department's attempt to get people to eat less?  In an effort to get people to choose smaller portions, this ad was created. The man's leg was digitally amputated. 

Do you think the ad is impactful?  Will it have the intended effect?  Should the ad agency have found someone who actually suffered from diabetes and who actually had their leg amputated or does it not make a difference?

Fat tax

"On Saturday, Denmark became the first country in the world to introduce a "fat tax," surcharge on unhealthy foods that are high in saturated fat in hopes of curbing bad eating habits."

Everything that contains more than 2.3% saturated fat (bacon, butter, pizza, oil, red meat, cheese, milk etc.) will have an extra $1.28 per pound ($2.87 per kilogram) of saturated fat added to the price.  They are doing this in order to fight the rate of obesity in their country and to encourage healthier eating.  The money that is raised by this additional tax will be used to educate consumers and other obesity-fighting measures.

What are your thoughts on this?  Is it right for the government to try to mandate healthier eating?  Is it fat that is the culprit?  What about taxing sugars and refined carbohydrates as well (or instead)?   Do you think that other countries will follow?

Economist Steve Sexton says that instead of taxing food that is fat, we should tax people who are fat.  He lays out a way for doctors to report to the government who is fat and who is not (allowing for genetic per-disposition) and then levying a tax on those individuals.  Thoughts on this?