(February 2 2017, New York, USA) – Vital Strategies, a global health not-for profit organization, today condemned South Africa’s beverage industry association – BevSA – for lying to the media and other stakeholders about World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) stance on soda taxes.
Vital Strategies stands with WHO in affirming the effectiveness of soda taxes and in supporting health advocates and South Africa’s government on the introduction of a soda tax. Almost 69 percent of South African women and 39 percent of men are either overweight or obese. Obesity related diseases such as heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, stroke and some cancers are among the top 10 causes of death in South Africa, together accounting for 43 percent of deaths.
Sugary, carbonated drinks are a key driver of this obesity epidemic. They have no nutritional value, nor do they reduce appetite, so total calorie intake increases and so does the risk of weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and some cancers. In addition, the sugar in any carbonated, sugar-sweetened drink enters the bloodstream and leads to fat build-up in and around vital organs. This visceral fat increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers. The earlier in life someone develops an obesity-related disease such as type 2 diabetes, the greater the risk of complications later – lending greater urgency to the need to reduce the consumption of sugary, carbonated drinks among children.
A growing body of evidence confirms that, as with tobacco, high taxes and prices are effective in reducing demand for sugary drinks. Mexico’s soda tax reduced consumption – and reduced it most dramatically among the poorest in society, who are most likely to suffer from related health and economic harms. Mexico’s soda tax has proven to be a progressive and effective policy; South Africa’s soda tax would deliver similar benefits.
Sandra Mullin, Senior Vice President, Policy, Advocacy and Communication, Vital Strategies said:
“It is utterly disgraceful that BevSA lied to the media about the World Health Organization’s position on soda taxes. The timing of BevSA’s briefings – made before WHO had presented its expert evidence to the public hearing on South Africa’s proposed soda tax – reveals their intent. BevSA wanted the media to report that WHO did not support the soda tax, when WHO’s expert testimony just hours later showed the exact opposite is true. WHO supports soda taxes because they are a sound public health policy.
“This is a clear attempt to manipulate public opinion and subvert health policy in favour of the industry and the profits of its members. It’s straight out of big tobacco’s playbook. And it is particularly venal to misrepresent a respected and trusted organization like WHO, which puts scientific evidence at the heart of its policy recommendations.
“BevSA’s actions confirm that policymakers, the media and the public cannot trust the beverage industry on this issue. It’s exactly why the industry and its supporters should have no place at the policy table.
“BevSA should issue an immediate and public retraction of its lies and publicly apologize to WHO, whose experts who are trying to help the government protect the health of current and future generations of South Africans. The proposed soda tax will be a positive step forward in that work.”
About Vital Strategies
Vital Strategies is a global health organization that seeks to accelerate progress on the world’s most pressing health problems. Our team combines evidence-based strategies with innovation to help develop and implement sound public health policies, manage programs efficiently, strengthen data systems, conduct research, and design strategic communication campaigns for policy and behavior change. To find out more, please visit vstrategystage.wpengine.com or Twitter @VitalStrat.
For further information or to arrange an interview with a Vital Strategies public health and obesity prevention expert, please contact Tracey Johnston, Vital Strategies, at +44.7889.081.170 or tjohnston@vitalstrategies.org