The speech I mentioned yesterday was indeed held today: WHO Press release: FAO/WHO launch expert report on diet, nutrition and prevention of chronic diseases:
We have known for a long time that foods high in saturated fats, sugars, and salt, are unhealthy; that we are, globally, increasing our intake of energy-dense, nutritionally poor food as our lives become increasingly sedentary, says Dr Brundtland. And that these factors together with tobacco use are the leading causes of the great surge we have seen in the incidence of chronic diseases. What is new, is that we are laying down the foundation for a global policy response.(a copy of the speech held by Gro Harlem Brundtland can also be found in VG)
I think it's so funny that the Sugar Association and Snack Food Association were rallying against this. Do they think no one will notice who they are? Of course they are going to go against the recommendation for reduced sugar. Profits, profits, profits!
So what real effect do you think this will have on anyone? I think everyone knows that eating "foods high in saturated fats, sugars, and salt" is unhealthy. That hasn't stopped us from consuming more and more. Will an announcement by WHO really matter much in the minds of the general public?
Posted by: eliot on April 23, 2003 04:56 PMEliot, I agree: most people won't take much notice in their daily lives. Still; WHO bringing smoking on the agenda years back has at least partially pushed countries to start regulating smoking in public areas and looking at the impacts smoking has on the national health spending (hospitals; cancer cures, "cost" to the society of premature deaths etc?)
Hopefully the fact that WHO makes those statements on sugar and dieting will subtly push individuals as well as governments into thinking a tad more on healthy eating?
Posted by: Anders on April 23, 2003 05:49 PM|
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Anders Jacobsen [extrospection.com photography] |