Debate had been going on in recent weeks in the French Parliament on the level of obesity in France, especially in its overseas departments.
One of the causes was blamed on the high level of sugar found in most soft drinks in the overseas departments which are said to be sweeter than those being sold in mainland France.
In presenting some austerity measures announced on August 24, French Prime Minister, Francois Filion said the government has decided to increase the tax on some drinks with high sugar levels being sold in the departments by 3 percent to be implemented from January 1, 2012. This, he said, will bring about 100 million euro to the coffers of government.
In response to the proposed measures by Prime Minister Fillion, President of Guadeloupe’s Regional Council who is also a Deputy in the French parliament, proposed a bill on “regulation of sugar content in food products in the overseas departments.”
But it was narrowly defeated Tuesday, October 11, in the National Assembly, 199 against, 194 for and 8 abstentions.
According to Mr Lurel, the bill is not entirely dead, but he is now looking for support from the three Guadeloupians in the senate where his party has the majority, to see the acceptance of the bill.
I happen to live in France for most of the year, and I can report that the alarm over growing waist lines is exaggerated, from what I see.We French men and women are still svelte and slender. I agree with most of youy= that, to the extant there has been a slight increase in kilos and waist lines, that this is due to drinking sodas ans eating too much sugar. However, rest assured, according to studies, that we French are still far slimmer and healthier than those in the US and the US (http://www.collectivewizdom.com/NormalWaistSize)
To compare, more than two-thirds of US women and half of British women weigh more than recommended.
Voila!
What you need to know is that smme of the drinks sold in Guadeloupe and Martinique are the same we sell in ithe other Caribbean Islands that come from the US, South Americaand some other countries.So in fact, We have the same problem in Dominica and the other Islands. Too much sugar.
Too much sugar as well as artificial sweeteners that are worse such as Nutrasweet, made from the feces of E. coli bacteria, Splenda, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup (all GMO) and other artificial sweeteners as well as the hormones that are in the feed fed to the animals. And then you can also add the pesticides.
It is no accident that this stuff is in your food.
true true true nothing but chemicals designed to make us think we can eat and drink what ever we want with not calories. think about why is we are fatter now that they give us these fake sweeteners.
Good thing Skerrit did not live long in Guadeloupe or France or Martinique for his belly would be big as a beach-ball. Therefore, he is not a Frenchman, according to UWP.
…garcon mi au gwo vat!
A totally agree with FRANCE. I am from SXM and live there. I visited Martinique on sevral occasions and the coke and sprite is not the same. They does not contain the same level of sugar. Our social security is in RED now, so I agree, less sugar less problem for gov with health care.There are things that cannot be sold in FRANCE, but yet are sold especially in SXM where everything is acceptable. GOOD MOVE FRENCH GOV
The responsibility falls to the individual, not the governments. The govt. is not going to save you. In fact, they endorse many of the corporations producing this garbage form of food.
So you agree with France! You know, it is Jackasses like you who make life difficult for the rest of us! Taxing sugar does nothing to combat obesity. All it does, is give politicians an excuse to dig into peoples wallets! Whoever you are, where ever you are, please don’t vote!
well sah,so that’s what you call it like a cow,and pass gas like a devil,see the size of the bowo belly.i wish i could write the whole line in patou,somebody help me out.
The French people should get off their asses and exercise a little. Fat represents an imbalance of calories taken in versus that which is expended in doing work. Obviously they would rather sit on their asses watching TV, drinking soda and pastries than going out for a walk.
and what does that have to do with Dominica?????? we don’t have the drinks that they have. the grenadine, all the gaseous drinks etc etc, all we have is coke sprite and fanta!!!!!!!
Stop being stupid. a lot of shops in Dominica sell beverages coming from Guadeloupe. people shopping in guadeloupe or martinique and sending for their families.
how many drinks from guadelope can you travel with to make you obesite, i travel to the other side all the time and you can only hold about 3 of those dinks now, times has changed when you could travel with 3 4 boxes with groceries right now you can’t do that no more!!!!! and besides people don’t really shop up there anymore the prices are just as high as here!!!!
BRAM BRAM!!!!!!!!
have you ever seen l’ordinaire here?
despite the fact that our drinks are not the same obesity is a world wide problem. Obesity is also affecting us because the minister of health and the health department had a series of talks on obesity in Dominica especially in children. so just like tourism obisity is everybody’s business.
i agree with France
You all agree with France because you all have half a brain!
and that sweet quenchi. iv never tasted a soda so sweet. couldnt even tolerate one sip.
THEN DON’T BUY IT!!! BUT DON’T TELL ME THAT I CAN’T!!! GODDAMN COMMUNISTS!!
How you so damn stupid. What do you think coke, sprite and fanta have? These drinks are high in calories too!!!! Do you all ever do research or even read the can/bottle or whatever you all eat/drink from?
So in other words, if you chose to get too fat in France, you will be paying the government as a majority 100 million euros! Nice move France!!!!!!!
Um, no. It’s the makers of the overly sweet drinks who (if the bill were impleneted, would) pay the taxes, not the consumers.
These costs are ALWAYS passed on to the consumer! Economics 101! You people should not be allowed to comment on stuff like this. It’s evidently above you alls’ level of education! Drives me nuts!!!!