UN health officials consider plan to ‘outlaw’ fast food giants from charitable work with kids
Memo calls for 'stringent regulation' to block firms, such as KFC and McDonalds from marketing fast food to under-18s
UNITED Nations health officials are considering calls to “outlaw” fast food giants from charitable work, sponsoring kids’ sports and selling products in schools and hospitals.
A World Health Organisation memo seen by The Sun suggests “stringent regulation” to block firms marketing fast food and fizzy drinks to under-18s in a bid to tackle obesity.
It says firms such as KFC should be “restrained from positioning themselves as friends of vulnerable children” through charity campaigns in Africa.
It adds that fast food and fizzy drink companies should be “barred” from sponsoring schools, children’s sports, health and recreation events.
And it calls for a widespread ban on fast food vending machines in schools, children’s hospitals and “any other space where children and adolescents congregate”.
It notes that the “legal prohibition” would have to be accompanied with health training in schools.
But stunned campaigners said the “crazy” proposals would alarm industry.
The plans are part of a 38 page document prepared by public health experts for the WHO’s Independent High-Level Commission on so-called non-communicable diseases – such as heart attacks, diabetes and cancer.
The Commission is studying the plans so it can prepare a package of measures for world leaders to debate at the UN General Assembly this September.
A UN spokesman said: “These ideas will be considered by the Commission as it proceeds with its work.”
The move comes a week after The Sun launched its “Hands Off Our Grub” campaign in protest at the Sugar Tax.
Chris Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs told The Sun: “It is shocking that unelected bureaucrats at the UN are considering such a widespread ban on our favourite food and drink products.
“The World Health Organisation should be tackling infectious diseases in developing countries, not devising loony schemes to interfere in people’s lifestyles.”
He added: “The British government gives millions of pounds to the WHO. The Department of Health needs to assure taxpayers that it will be spent on medicine, not meddling, and that it will not be implementing it’s crazy policies here.”
Burger giant McDonald’s alone has supported 1 million footballers and provided 7,000 junior football teams with kits through its work in the community.
Leave our full English alone and focus on balanced diets — not a tax on meat which punishes poor
KFC claims its ‘Add Hope Campaign for SOS Villages’ in South Africa helps to feed 120,000 children every day.
The WHO’s Independent Commission is co-chaired by the President of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, but includes the former President of Botswana, and the Health Ministers of Iran and Tonga on its panel.
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Gavin Partington, director general at the British Soft Drinks Association, said: “Obesity is a complex issue and we don’t believe that action on a single category would have a meaningful impact on this.
“The UK soft drink industry recognises it has a role to play in public health and have led the way in calorie and sugar reduction."
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£14 billion overseas spend
AID chief Penny Mordaunt will risk a backlash today by launching a passionate defence of Britain’s £14 billion overseas spend.
The Tory will say Britain has a “moral obligation” to help the poor.
It comes in a speech wheee she maps out her Vision for UK Aid.
Aides said the UK would be “smarter” in how it spends taxpayers’ cash but needs to “engage”. They once more refused to say if the Secretary of State would carry through with her threat to cut funding to charities caught up in the recent sex abuse scandals.