Lecturer calls for removing VAT on fruit and vegetables

Feike van der Leij, lecturer in Health & Food at Inholland University of Applied Sciences, argued forcefully for the elimination of VAT on fresh fruits and vegetables during a roundtable discussion in The Hague. Together with other scientists, he made an urgent appeal to the members of parliament to make healthy eating more affordable and attractive.

Van der Leij emphasized that scrapping VAT on fruits and vegetables is a simple financial incentive and a step toward a healthier Netherlands. The roundtable discussion aimed to further the debate on this issue and give the Lower House members a better perspective.

Practice-based research and position paper

Feike van der Leij is affiliated with the lecturer platform Food, Nutrition and Health (LPVVG), which conducts practice-oriented research on sustainable, safe and healthy food. The platform has prepared a position paper on eliminating VAT on fruits and vegetables ahead of the conversation.

Health benefits and savings on healthcare costs

The LPVVG emphasized that encouraging the consumption of fruits and vegetables is essential for a healthier Netherlands. Although abolishing VAT will incur costs, these are more than offset by savings on healthcare costs. Van der Leij called for further measures, such as a sugar tax, to improve the health of the population.

More measures for a healthier society

Scientists hope that eliminating VAT on fruits and vegetables is only the first step and that further measures will be taken, such as a sugar tax and a ban on advertising unhealthy products.

Inholland.nl