In a move to get France fitter and healthier, the government has decided to raise tax on fatty foods which could mean taxing traditional French delicacies such as croissants, foie gras and cheeses.

The scheme arose as the health ministers attempt to fill a large gap in the healthcare budget, and taxing the most unhealthy foods, which are infiltrating every corner of French cuisine, seems to be their best solution.

Camembert might avoid tax
It is unknown as yet whether artisanal foods such as traditional cheeses and boulangerie products will come under the new sales tax bracket, which proposes to apply tax of up to 19.6% from a previous 5.5%.

Raising taxes "out of the question"
Raising the sales tax has met with opposition, notably from France's budget minister Eric Woerth, who argues that the spending power of the French people is lower - caused by inflation and low wages. "It is out of the question to raise sales taxes on food products, even more so given the difficult context of the French population's purchasing power."

Vive la Gourmandise!
In previous campaigns, the French government have used unorthodox methods to target the growing problem of obesity and have employed schemes such as "Get Healthy" which encouraged people using the Metro to take the stairs instead of escalators. Another campaign entitled "Vive la Gourmandise" encouraged children, a particularly vulnerable age-group, to eat sweets and chocolate but in moderation.