Health experts hit out at World Cup sponsors 15/06/2010 |
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FIFA has been accused of acting in an irresponsible manner after securing sponsorship deals with junk food manufacturers for the 2010 World Cup.
The partnerships with McDonalds, Coca Cola and Budweiser are highly lucrative but health experts in South Africa have been critical of the move.
According to a report by the national Heart Foundation, 29% of South African men and 56% of South African women are overweight.
Thami Bolani, chairman of the National Consumer Forum, said the tournament would have been the "perfect opportunity to educate all communities about healthy eating but we missed the boat on this one completely."
The World Cancer Research Fund also hit out at the deals claiming that excess body fat increases the chances of contracting cancer.
"It is disappointing that these companies have been chosen as sponsors and partners," said the charity's general manager Teresa Nightingale.
"We have to be realistic and accept that the existing sponsorship agreements are now in place.
"But it would be a great boost for public health around the world if FIFA could show real leadership on this issue by announcing it will not consider companies that promote unhealthy products as sponsors or partners in future."
But McDonald’s president, Don Thompson, hit back at his company’s critics by insisting the fast food outlet offers a whole range of healthy snacks.
"Food that McDonald's serve is the same thing people would get at a grocery store -- we have salads, fruits, chicken and beef," said Thompson. "We serve a wide a variety of food."
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