The pressure exerted by tobacco companies, alcohol and ultra -processed food is preventing governments from implementing health policies that save lives, the World Health Organization said Thursday.
The United Nations will dedicate next Thursday to the fight against noncommunicable diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, during their annual meeting in New York. The WHO, the UN Health Agency, states that these products contribute to such conditions.
In a separate report, WHO concluded that 3 dollars per person invested by governments in noncommunicable diseases could save more than 12 million lives and generate 1 billion savings dollars by 2030.
But the WHO statement says that governments often face intense pressure groups by industries that try to block, weaken or delay policies, ranging from health taxes to marketing restrictions for children.
“It is unacceptable that commercial interests benefit from the increase in deaths and diseases,” said Etienne Krug, director of the Department of Determinants, promotion and prevention of WHO.
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Industrias reject WHO signs
The representatives of the food, tobacco and alcoholic industries rejected that qualification and told Reuters who welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the debate on how to reduce damage and that it was important to maintain dialogue.
At the UN meeting, governments plan to agree on new objectives in the field of noncommunicable diseases and a road map on how to reach them, but health groups have warned that the draft of the political declaration has already been diluted.
Tobaccoleras such as Japan Tobacco International, as well as associations of the food and beer industry, told Reuters that the UN invites the participation of the industry, and that this can result in more effective policies.
“We have welcomed the opportunity to unite the Member States and the defenders of the cause to share our perspective on how to reduce the harmful use of alcohol,” said Justin Kissinger, president of the World Brewing Alliance, in a statement sent by email.
The International Food and Drink Alliance said it was inaccurate to match food with tobacco and alcohol.
“We are in total disagreement with the characterization of our sector as an obstruction of progress,” added Rocco Renaldi, general secretary of the Industrial Alliance, which represents food and non -alcoholic beverages.
The tobacco companies affirmed that it is important to discuss.
With Reuters information.
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