Developing countries could derail global anti-obesity plan

In a last minute submission to the World Health Organization 135 developing nations, including major sugar producers, expressed “concerns” about WHO's global plan to tackle obesity. Some countries threatened to vote against the final text, which WHO members are set to adopt at their annual meeting in May.

Earlier this year the United States, under pressure from its powerful food and drinks industry, opposed WHO's proposed global strategy on diet, physical activity, and health and rejected a link made in the draft text between junk food and obesity (31 January, p 245).

But as feedback poured in from governments to WHO to meet the deadline at the end …