Obesity issues: WHO disease panel split on soft drink sugar tax

Britain's sugar tax on soft drinks came into effect in April and led manufacturers to reformulate their products

An independent panel advising the World Health Organization (WHO) has stopped short of recommending taxing sugary drinks to reduce obesity after failing to reach a consensus.

Some countries, such as Mexico, France and Britain, are already taxing sugary drinks and the WHO made a non-binding recommendation in October 2016 that governments should impose a 20 percent tax.
 
While this was called “discriminatory” and “unproven” by the industry, activists had hoped for a strong endorsement from the panel, which includes heads of states and health ministers.
 
The panel on Friday called on governments to increase efforts to fight