Pamela Parseghian

According to Pamela Parseghian in the following viewpoint, imposing taxes on high-calorie foods would be unfair and ineffective at reducing obesity in the United States. She maintains that, unlike cigarette smoke, which can harm nonsmokers, indulging in unhealthy foods does not affect anyone other than the consumer. Therefore, she contends, the government has no right to regulate a person’s food choices. Moreover, Parseghian argues that determining which foods have too much fat would be difficult, particularly in restaurants where recipes often vary. A veteran of the food industry, Parseghian has extensive professional experience in both restaurant operations and food writing.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to the author, why was gluttony included in the seven deadly sins"
2. In the author’s opinion, why is a fat tax...