New WHO Europe report highlights how big industry fuels chronic diseases, obstructs health policy and targets vulnerable people
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe has highlighted just four industries (tobacco, alcohol, ultra-processed foods, and fossil fuels) cause 2.7 million deaths in the European Region every year.
Their new hard hitting report spells out clearly how specific powerful industries are driving ill health and premature mortality across Europe and Central Asia, including through interfering in and influencing prevention and control efforts for non-communicable diseases (NCD's) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and their risk factors.
The report calls on governments to implement mechanisms to identify conflicts of interests and protect public policies from industry interferences. Areas recommended for stronger regulations include:
- marketing of health-harming products
- monopolistic practices
- transparency, lobbying, funding and conflicts of interest
- taxation of multinational corporations
- job security and labour conditions
- exploitation of vulnerable populations during crises
- funding and support for civil society organisations to ensure their independence.
Dr Kawther Hashem, Campaign Lead at Action on Sugar based at Queen Mary University of London says:
This will require reducing the huge and unnecessary amounts of salt, sugar and fat in processed foods by setting mandatory reformulation targets that are legally enforceable and, if necessary, apply taxes similar to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to food categories in order to incentivise the industry to improve their products.”
For access to the report, visit the WHO website
