WHO recommends food marketing curbs for child obesity

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GENEVA (Reuters) – Governments must work with industry to restrict advertising of foods high in salt, sugar and dangerous fats targeted at children to tackle an epidemic of obesity and other diseases, health officials said on Friday.

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This is a serious and growing health concern for children in many countries around the world. While the U.S. seems to get most of the attention, obviously it isn't limited to the States.

Dr. Timothy Armstrong, who heads the WHO's efforts on promoting healthy diet and physical education, said non-communicable diseases now account for 90 percent of premature deaths in low- and middle-income countries, where obesity is a rising problem.

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Wow! That number is really high.

WHO officials consulted leading companies in the sector -- Coca-Cola, Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, General Mills, Kellogg, Kraft, McDonald's, Mars, Nestle, Pepsico, Unilever and the World Federation of Advertisers.

The companies agreed to draw up a code of conduct and committed not to market unhealthy products to children under the age of 12, he said.

In some markets companies were living up to this pledge.

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I think this is responsible for companies to voluntarily address the problem. However, I find it hard to believe McDonald's, among others, will ever give up Happy Meals voluntarily to stop marketing to young children.

"The concept is that governments must lead this process," he said.

It was up to governments to choose the best approach. Some might prefer to legislate a ban on advertising, others could agree independently monitored self-regulation with industry. But the WHO was aware that legislation and enforcement was beyond the capacity of some small, poor states, he said.

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I have a serious concern with government MANDATES. Guidelines I can live with, but MANDATES? I still believe that companies should be able to determine their own practices (within reason, of course) and that parents should be responsible for parenting.

Comments?

The more people turn over their lives to Gov'ts the more Gov'ts will control the people.

MrVicchio said:

The more people turn over their lives to Gov'ts the more Gov'ts will control the people.

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But at the same time, I would like to see corporations and parents show some responsibility... I agree, the government shouldn't prescribe mandates, but it would be nice to see some corporate and personal responsibility...

MrVicchio said:

The more people turn over their lives to Gov'ts the more Gov'ts will control the people.

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The WHO isn't a government, and has no power over people.

That being said, this is a stupid idea.