Costa Rican taxman to hit healthy food

The official basic shopping basket used to measure inflation in Costa Rica from July 2020 onward will hit hard on those who aim consume healthy foods that are to be taxed at 13 percent on VAT.

About half of the 29 items on the list are fruit, vegetables, shellfish whole grains and tuna.

Costa Ricans own average eat about 3 kilos a year, the highest consumption in Central America.

The main concern is that the higher prices will hit hardest on consumption of healthy food among low-income families, La República reports in Spanish.