Developing countries reject U.N. obesity plan
Issue date: 2/10/04 Section: AP Stories
The Associated Press
ROME - A group of developing countries rejected the science driving the United Nations' effort to fight obesity worldwide, saying yesterday the dietary recommendations are based on flawed research and "not worthy of serious consideration."
The scientific report underpinning the global obesity strategy recommends that governments strive to limit their people's intake of sugar and fat while encouraging increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.
The developing countries said the report was shoddy and urged better nutrition education, not arbitrary limits of specific types of food. Their argument mirrors what sugar and other food industry representatives contend.
The report "labels various food items as good and bad. It concludes, without any scientific evidence, that bad food is the main cause of chronic diseases. This arbitrary conclusion, apart from its shaky scientific foundation, is indeed prejudicial," a Colombian delegation told the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, speaking on behalf of the G77 group of developing nations and China.
The U.N. food agency was reviewing the report yesterday.
The agency, together with the World Health Organization, is building an unprecedented strategy aimed at reducing obesity-linked diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The scientific report behind the strategy is considered the most significant statement in more than a decade on what the world should be doing about its diet.
The strategy, to be finalized in May, was launched in response to evidence that illnesses caused by bad diet and lack of exercise are no longer just the preserve of the Western world.
It calls on governments to push manufacturers to cut fat, sugar and salt content and to change advertising and tax policy to promote healthier eating.
The International Obesity Task Force, an independent expert group whose chair headed the scientific panel, stood by the findings and said the criticism was aimed at delaying adoption of the plan.
ROME - A group of developing countries rejected the science driving the United Nations' effort to fight obesity worldwide, saying yesterday the dietary recommendations are based on flawed research and "not worthy of serious consideration."
The scientific report underpinning the global obesity strategy recommends that governments strive to limit their people's intake of sugar and fat while encouraging increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.
The developing countries said the report was shoddy and urged better nutrition education, not arbitrary limits of specific types of food. Their argument mirrors what sugar and other food industry representatives contend.
The report "labels various food items as good and bad. It concludes, without any scientific evidence, that bad food is the main cause of chronic diseases. This arbitrary conclusion, apart from its shaky scientific foundation, is indeed prejudicial," a Colombian delegation told the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, speaking on behalf of the G77 group of developing nations and China.
The U.N. food agency was reviewing the report yesterday.
The agency, together with the World Health Organization, is building an unprecedented strategy aimed at reducing obesity-linked diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The scientific report behind the strategy is considered the most significant statement in more than a decade on what the world should be doing about its diet.
The strategy, to be finalized in May, was launched in response to evidence that illnesses caused by bad diet and lack of exercise are no longer just the preserve of the Western world.
It calls on governments to push manufacturers to cut fat, sugar and salt content and to change advertising and tax policy to promote healthier eating.
The International Obesity Task Force, an independent expert group whose chair headed the scientific panel, stood by the findings and said the criticism was aimed at delaying adoption of the plan.