Anger at remark on junk food from public health experts

Public health experts from around the world have strongly criticised the head of the British Food and Drink Federation (FDF) for suggesting that non-Western countries have “no problem” with Coca-Cola and McDonald’s sponsoring the Olympics.

Ian Wright, director-general of the FDF, which represents the food and drink industry, told Campaign magazine the “source of the controversy is invariably Western and metropolitan” and Asian and Latin American countries have “no problem” with the companies.

In the interview, Mr Wright said: “Coca-Cola and McDonald’s are among the world’s most responsible companies. Being involved in the Olympic family and sharing its values allows both sides to benefit from the special value of such relationships. You only have to look at Johnnie Walker’s sponsorship of the McLaren Formula One team to see that it has not only been very successful but has also advanced the cause of responsible drinking. You also have to remember that the source of the controversy is invariably Western and metropolitan. Asian and Latin American countries have no problem with companies that behave responsibly.”

But the Children’s Food Campaign (CFC) charity claimed the FDF had become a target of global backlash against the Rio Olympics’ “carnival of junk food marketing” as it released responses gathered from public health campaigners and experts criticising Mr Wright’s comments.

Dr Fabio Gomes, a Brazilian public health nutritionist and World Health Organisation regional adviser on nutrition, described Mr Wright’s statement as “outrageous and wrong” and Alejandro Calvillo, who has served on panels to the Pan American Health Organisation and Mexico’s national consumer protection agency, described Mr Wright’s comments as “offensive”.

Tilakavati Karupaiah, an associate professor in the faculty of health sciences at the National University of Malaysia, said: “Our own and our government’s efforts to continue to get important health messages across are threatened by the millions of dollars spent on marketing campaigns for junk food and sugary drinks.”

Tim Lobstein, policy director at the World Obesity Federation, said: “Child obesity is rising in developing economies and the last thing the children need are inducements to consume more junk food.

“The Olympic Games should be a beacon of human progress and ability, not a place where poor nutrition is given a halo of gold.”

CFC co-ordinator, Malcolm Clark, said: “Today, as the Rio2016 Olympics begin, we stand in solidarity with public health counterparts in Brazil, and throughout the world. As their angry responses to the UK’s Food and Drink Federation makes clear, countries in Latin America and Asia take the health impact of junk food marketing as seriously as everywhere else.”