12/10/2016 (Agence Europe) – The World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling for an increase in taxes on sweet drinks and for fruit and vegetables to be subsidised, in an effort to combat obesity. In a report published on Tuesday 11 October, the UN agency said that an adult should not ingest more than 25g of sugar or six spoons of sugar a day (although a fizzy drink can account for 10 spoonfuls of sugar). The WHO therefore recommends the application of stricter tax policies for food and drinks for which healthier alternatives exist. The report indicates that there is increasingly clear proof that imposing taxes on sweet drinks would result in a proportionate reduction in consumption; a 20% increase in prices for these drinks would therefore lead to a 20% reduction in consumption. (SPj)