WHO sets the record straight on work with the food and beverage industry
Several recent media articles1 are
creating misinformation and confusion in the public health arena. These
articles are erroneously suggesting that in working to reduce
noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases,
cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, the World Health
Organization (WHO) receives funding from the food and beverage industry.
The allegations in these articles are wrong.
Because
of WHO’s role in the development of norms, standards and guidelines for
protecting and improving people’s health, WHO uses a rigorous process
to protect its work from undue industry influence. The private sector
plays an important role along with other key stakeholders in taking
action to improve health. When WHO works with the private sector, the
Organization takes all possible measures to ensure its work to develop
policy and guidelines is protected from industry influence.
- WHO may engage with the private sector on occasion, but according to WHO policy, funds may not be sought or accepted from enterprises that have a direct commercial interest in the outcome of the project toward which they would be contributing.
- All experts on WHO advisory groups for developing norms, standards and guidelines are required to disclose interests regarding the advisory committee’s area of work. If a declared interest is potentially significant, then the expert is either excluded from the meeting or given a restricted role.
For
this reason the Organization does not accept funding from the food and
beverage manufacturers for work on NCD prevention and control.
The
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is unique among WHO’s Regional
Offices because it contains two separate legal entities – the WHO
Regional Office for the Americas (AMRO) and the health agency of the
Organization of the American States (PAHO). In some areas the two
entities may have variations in policy. For example, as mentioned in the
media reports, in its capacity as PAHO, food and beverage manufacturers
have contributed financially as part of a multi-sector forum to address
NCDs.
The Political
Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the United Nations General
Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases,
agreed by global leaders at the UN General Assembly in 2011, called on
the international community to undertake a series of actions. One of
these actions was to call on the private sector to promote measures to
implement WHO recommendations to reduce exposure to the risk factors
which contribute to NCDs. The WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical
Activity and Health commits WHO to hold discussions with the private
sector, but the Organization will not take money from private companies
active in food and beverage production for work on NCD prevention and
control as implied by the media articles.
WHO
is committed to reducing the public health impacts associated with
NCDs. Hundreds of staff both at headquarters and in WHO’s Regional and
Country Offices work to develop evidence, tools and effective
interventions to help national governments take the action needed to
prevent NCDs and reduce their impact, by saving lives and reducing
illness. Often, WHO’s work focuses on policies and programmes to create
health-promoting environments and reduce the four principal risk factors
that increase the risk of these diseases: tobacco use, physical
inactivity, unhealthy diet and harmful use of alcohol.
Because
NCDs contribute to 36 million deaths, or 63%, of all deaths globally
each year, they are a priority for the Organization. Of the 36 million
people who die annually from these diseases, 14 million are under 70
years of age, and regarded therefore as premature and largely
preventable deaths. About 80% of the deaths related to noncommunicable
disease occur in the developing world. WHO appreciates the support of
governments, civil society and other partners who are working closely
with us to reduce the death, illness and disability from these diseases.
