Could Food Taxes Benefit People and the Planet? Increasing taxes on food and drinks that are bad for the planet or bad for our health could have a big positive impact, according to a new study. But researchers in Sweden said that to get the best results, taxes on sustainable, healthy foods should be removed. As the world gets warmer, experts are looking for ways that we can take action. Some have suggested that we eat less red meat, because the industry produces a lot of greenhouse gas emissions. The Swedish research team wanted to look into the effect of "cost-neutral food tax reforms." This means increasing taxes on things like red meat, processed meat and sugary drinks, and offering subsidies on healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, fish and products containing whole grains. They argue that this would mean a person's weekly shopping trip wouldn't cost any more because the price rises and price reductions would balance out and become "cost-neutral." This would also have a positive effect on people's health. In their study, the researchers found that a food tax like this could significantly cut food-related carbon emissions. They focused on Sweden in their projections but said that this could apply to other countries too. The researchers said that the tax increase could add more than $3 per kilogram to the price of beef and lamb, which could decrease meat consumption by 19%. "Today's diets are making us sick and negatively impacting the climate," said Jörgen Larsson, one of the study authors. He added: "If we want to do something about this collectively, taxes and subsidies are a good way forward." Larsson said that "not everyone needs to become a vegetarian" but big gains can be made with "more moderate consumption" of red meat. However, the researchers acknowledged that decreased demand for meat in one country could lower international prices and lead to "increased consumption in other countries." Others argue that families who find meat too expensive may end up choosing cheaper, less healthy foods rather than fruits and vegetables.