First it was tobacco – now big food is in the firing line

LONDON — South Africa is high up on the list of the heavy weights in the world when it comes to obesity. Our diet of 'slap chips', 'pap and sheba' and increasing reliance on fast foods at outlets where you do not even have to get out of the car to get your burger or fried chicken, is taking its toll. Some studies find that South Africa's obesity figures is the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, others indicate that 69% of women and 41% of men are overweight and even though some of these figures can be disputed, it is undeniable that we have a heavy problem. South Africa has joined other countries trying to curb the use of excess sugar with a sugar tax, but a report by the medical journal, the Lancet says these measures are not enough to address obesity and are calling for a treaty against junk food similar to the anti-tobacco and climate change campaigns. – Linda van Tilburg

In a report by 43 public health experts from 14 countries published in the medical journal, Lancet, the food and beverage industry known as "Big Food" is blamed not only for the expanding waistlines of consumers all over the world, but it also says the growth-focused food sector is feeding the world empty calories and depleting the world's natural resources. The scientists are calling for an international treaty and they want action from governments similar to the actions taken on climate change and tobacco use and they want to exclude the food and beverage industry from participating in formulating policy.

___STEADY_PAYWALL___