Sweet talk

Sculptures made of sugar were put up in front of the Houses of Parliament in London on Tuesday to highlight the need for the public to reduce sugar intake. A parliamentary Health Committee report published on Monday urged British Prime Minister David
PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Sculptures made of sugar were put up in front of the Houses of Parliament in London on Tuesday to highlight the need for the public to reduce sugar intake.

A parliamentary Health Committee report published on Monday urged British Prime Minister David Cameron to take urgent action and support a call for a sugar tax to tackle child obesity.

Among other measures, it urges controls on promotion of "unhealthy food and drink". It also said there should be tougher controls on marketing and advertising of such food and drink, and that labels should show sugar content in teaspoons, among other measures.

Treatment for obesity costs Britain's state-run health service £5.1 billion (S$10.8 billion) every year.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 03, 2015, with the headline Sweet talk. Subscribe