WHO’s Anti-Obesity Plan Carries The Day

The World Health Organization’s plan to fight global obesity has won the backing of the U.S. government and American and European food industries despite determined opposition by the sugar industry.

Health representatives from 192 member states, meeting this week in Geneva, will be asked to approve the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, which advises consumers to limit intake of fat, salt and sugar and exercise more.

The new guidelines won the backing of the Grocery Manufacturers of America and the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the European Union on Monday.

“It’s a sea change from two years ago, when they were very reluctant to come to grips with the problem at all,” said WHO spokesman David Porter.

The sugar industry, however, still staunchly opposes the new measures.

``It wasn't based on a preponderance of science,'' Andrew Briscoe, president of the Sugar Association in Washington, said by telephone. The WHO offered ``no evidence that sugar causes obesity,'' said Richard Cottrell, the head of the World Sugar Research Organization in Reading, England.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at May 20, 2004 09:17 AM | TrackBack