Call for tax on fatty foods

Leading doctors could call for a "fat tax" on unhealthy foods like burgers, sausages and meat pies to tackle Britain's obesity epidemic.

The "VAT on fat" would apply to foods with high levels of saturated fats making them more expensive than healthier alternatives like fruit and vegetables.

The plan comes from a GP who has spent years treating patients for obesity and related disorders. It will be put to the British Medical Association tomorrow.

If accepted as BMA policy, the association will campaign for it to become law. If it did, healthy foods such as fillets of fish could become the cheaper alternative to traditionally inexpensive foods such as economy burgers and kebabs.

Dr Martin Breach says his proposed fat tax is a realistic solution to a growing problem. He had the idea when he realised that the NHS was spending "hundreds of millions of pounds" a year on cholesterol-lowering drugs, while Britons continued to gorge on cholesterol-raising fatty foods. "It is like pulling the bath plug out while keeping both taps running," he said.