Daily Digit: A new tax proposal might make you want to become a vegetarian

Daily Digit is the story behind the numbers that make our world work. Today we’re looking at red meat sales. A tax on red meat could save the U.S. $20 billion in health care costs, according to a new study. Researchers suggest that processed and unprocessed red meat should be taxed 163 percent and 34 percent, respectively. In addition to saving costs, the study estimates, 53,000 deaths could be avoided annually in the U.S. since red meat consumption can lead to an increase in heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Governments around the world have already introduced taxes on unhealthy products such as sugar, alcohol and cigarettes. So your next double bacon cheeseburger might be a lot more expensive!