The U.N. health agency on Tuesday recommended that countries use tax policy to increase the price of sugary drinks like sodas, sport drinks and even 100-percent fruit juices as a way to fight obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
The World Health Organization, in a statement timed for World Obesity Day, said that the prevalence of obesity worldwide more than doubled between 1980 and 2014, when nearly 40 percent of people globally were overweight.
In a 36-page report on fiscal policy and diet, WHO also cited “strong evidence” that subsidies to reduced prices for fresh fruits and vegetables can help improve diets. It said that tax policies that lead to a 20-percent increase in the retail prices of sugary drinks would result in a proportional reduction in consumption.
Drawing on lessons from campaigns to fight tobacco use, WHO says imposing or increasing taxes on sugary drinks could help lower consumption of sugars, bringing health benefits and more income for governments such as to pay for health services. The health agency has long recommended that people keep intake of sugar to less than 10 percent of their total energy needs.
“Consumption of free sugars, including products like sugary drinks, is a major factor in the global increase of people suffering from obesity and diabetes,” says Dr. Douglas Bettcher, who heads WHO’s department for preventing non-communicable diseases. “If governments tax products like sugary drinks, they can reduce suffering and save lives.”
WHO officials say that the U.S. is no longer the leading consumer of sugar-sweetened beverages — Chile and Mexico are now in front. They also noted rapid increase in consumption like China and sub-Saharan Africa. At least three in five adolescents in countries like Chile, Argentina and Algeria consume soft drinks daily, compared to between 20 to 40 percent in the U.S. and much of Europe.
“Taxation policies can be a very important tool — just one tool among many — but a very important tool for the reduction of sugar-sweetened beverages,” said Dr. Francesco Branca, who heads WHO’s Department for Nutrition and Health. He pointed to “pioneering” efforts by Michael Bloomberg, during his time as mayor of New York, and other U.S. officials to reduce sugar consumption.
The report was based on information collected in May last year, but WHO is coming forward with its recommendation on Tuesday because the evidence of the link between tax policy and reduced consumption coupled with health benefits have only recently emerged, said Temo Waqanivalu, coordinator of WHO’s department for the prevention of non-communicable diseases.
Waqanivalu said that “discussion is ongoing” with companies behind such beverages on efforts to reduce sugar consumption.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Apparently the Un forgot to study the “Prohibition” period in US history or the “War on Drugs,” or even smoking. People who want their soda will have their soda. Tax be damned. People who smoke pay the tax for their tobacco. People who wanted a drink during Prohibition risked their lives to have it–given all the poison that was masquerading as liquor. Wise up, UN. Better yet, get out of the US.
The EU and UN are trying to do the same thing. Control our private lives. EU is on life support and the UN is next. Bureaucrats love control. they always want more control.. They alleyways get people furious and a response is on the way.. Here is the good part. They never understand what happened. You want control of people’s guns and now is expanding into everyday life. Not now or ever.. What about the problem in Syria? Every major problem has a debate but nothing is accomplished. UN documents make great toilet paper nothing more
Soda are not good, and taxing is not good and is usually given away to cronies and does nothing good with the additional money – common in CA for sure. People still buy cigarettes, cannibis, and why not sodas? Stupid cannot be cured by those who preach “health” and haven’t a clue what real health is or what it is about! As a health consultant they need to have a brain search! Both WHO and the CDC are always wanting more money and preaching stupidities while people have died from their suggestions! I have no faith in either. They knew ebola had existed for years and did nothing, and they also knew that pure oxygen had proven to cure it in days. They knew the zika mosquito has been around for 70 years and did nothing. Trust them? Not on my life, thank you!
Yes U.N. Let’s control the poor people who can’t pay our higher taxes.
The hell with what they might like to enjoy. They can sit and watch the better off enjoying life.
Get out of the U.N.
Trump. 2016.
More hot air from the liberals!! This will do nothing to fix obesity!
Who cares what the UN thinks. This is the organization that is out to destroy our country as we know it. We the taxpayers, are practically it’s only financial support. This organization has never, ever had the interest of the United States in mind. All we are to them is a wallet.
All liberals can think of to solve a problem is to tax it. You know how well that works. Government better think of something new fast or we will be taxed out of existence. Also, it’s concerning to me that President Obama is so obliging to this organization. No surprise though it fits perfectly into his world order scenario.
Soda is a beverage that we can purchase or choose to leave behind on the store shelf. The UN suggestion to drink more juice and eat more fresh fruit. That is great if you’re fortunate enough to have the funds to do so. There are many families in our country that cannot afford them and look upon these items as luxuries. The simplest solution is to limit your intake and choose a diet beverage. We didn’t need the help of the United Nations to come to that conclusion. What we need is no more United Nations.
Note that more fruit and fruit juices are pure fructose and not a balanced sugar and the liver finds it difficult to metabolize and thus more liver problems. I have found that getting back to basics is healing and listening to any UN, WHO, CDC, or federal programs telling us what to eat has usually led to more allergies (grains are not healthy any more), more fruit and get sicker, less meat and get sicker. Flesh needs veggies to be in balance in our health so I ignore whatever they push because the exact opposite is what is needed. By the way the brain NEEDS saturated fat, Dr. Cupra/supra whatever! or it can’t function well. What we don’t need is a lot simple carbs with high calories, not ral sodium (which 30 years of studies have proven sodium (the real salt) does not affect blood nor heart as does the junk salt in fast and packaged foods, and pizza is a super dangerous non-food! Guess if the government paid me to lie, I would state all the wrong things, but they don’t pay me and I studied good nutrition and as a health consultant my patients are happy, healthy and enjoy life.
We should get out of the UN and kick them out of our country. Why should we finance most of this globalist / liberal organization that votes against us 70 – 80% of the time? Let’s wake up and take care of business.
They are correct. Sugar is a death warrant.
Tax sweets: cookies, candies, soda, canned juices & salty snacks: chips, nuts, crackers alone.
Esp Soda.
& sugary cereal like Cap N Crunch, Reeses, Dracula etc cereals aimed at kids vs adults.
So who died and left you in charge of everybody’s health. Why is it liberals want to control what people do. If people make piss poor bad decisions…..they should have to live with the consequences, however your solution is to punish everyone. Furthermore the responsible people usually end up having to pay more for healthcare because of the irresponsible thru liberal policies.
Another tax on the poorest. Like cigarettes and gas taxes, they hurt the poor (liberal voters) most of all but they are too brain washed with blinding hatred for conservatives to see what’s going on.