Denmark cancels “fat tax” and shelves “sugar tax” because of threat of job losses

Denmark’s so called fat tax on foods high in saturated fats has been repealed by the Danish parliament only one year after being introduced.

The controversial tax, designed to improve the health of Danes by discouraging consumption of fatty foods, was opposed by farmers and food companies and was unpopular among consumers. Companies complained that the tax was a bureaucratic nightmare, increasing administrative costs and putting jobs at risk, and consumers in Denmark were making shopping trips to Germany and Sweden to avoid the tax.

The fat tax was levied on all foods containing more than …