Funding Healthy Diets

Healthy diets cost more on average than typical diets. The New Zealand Government currently funds school lunches for children in need, but there is no wider subsidy on healthy foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables. Price cuts on healthy food have increased purchases in overseas markets, but a subsidy could cost several hundred million dollars annually, and shops may not pass the full cut on. One proposed way to pay for a subsidy is a tax on fast food companies, but this could also end up being passed on to customers.