Australia once led the world in confronting tobacco harm. On sugar consumption – a major driver of obesity and chronic disease – more than 100 countries are now ahead of us, and health ministers face a critical test.

Australia led the world in tackling the scourge of tobacco. Boldly standing up to the global tobacco industry with higher taxes, smoking restrictions, ugly packaging, and unflinching public campaigns, we set a global standard that saved countless lives.

Yet today, when it comes to preventing disease and death from excess sugar consumption, more than 100 countries are ahead of us. This is a staggering failure of public policy. Health ministers meet on 13 February to consider only a modest change to require labelling of added sugar.  Will they squib this, or will they be bold like their predecessors?

The evidence for urgent action........

© Pearls and Irritations