The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday held four major industries—tobacco, ultra-processed foods (UPFs), fossil fuels, and alcohol—accountable for 2.7 million annual deaths in Europe.
These industries are accused of hindering public policies that could negatively impact their profits.
Hans Kluge, director of the WHO Europe region, which encompasses 53 countries including Central Asia, stated, “These four industries kill at least 7,000 people in our region every day.”
The WHO’s report highlights that the consolidation of these sectors into a few powerful multinational corporations has given them significant influence over political and legal frameworks, allowing them to block regulations that serve the public interest but threaten their profit margins.
The report outlines how these industries use tactics such as targeting vulnerable populations with aggressive marketing, misleading consumers, and making false claims about their products’ benefits or environmental impact. These practices are undermining public health advancements and impeding countries from achieving their health goals.
The WHO emphasizes that industry lobbying is a major obstacle in addressing non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Currently, nearly 60% of adults and one-third of children in Europe are overweight or obese. Data from 2017 indicates that one in five deaths from cardiovascular disease and cancer in Europe is linked to unhealthy eating habits.
To combat these issues, the WHO urges nations to implement stricter regulations on the marketing of unhealthy products, combat monopolistic practices, and counteract industry lobbying. “People must take precedence over profit, always,” Kluge asserted.
The detailed findings are available in the report “Commercial Determinants of Noncommunicable Diseases in the WHO European Region” on the WHO website.