ABSTRACT
Food is one of the most basic necessities of life. In 2006 an estimated 800 million people are suffering from under-nourishment and more than 5 million children will die as a result of under-nutrition. The reasons for explosion in obesity include physical activity and food intake. Migration into cities is resulting in less-active lifestyles, while growing consumption of processed foods is leading to higher intake of salt, sugar and fat. Civil society has often questioned the role of corporations in harming our nutrition. Chemical flavours and fast-food fats, mad cows and baby-milk marketing–the issues may differ around the world but a common concern has been the use and abuse of the power that corporations have today and the varying independence of public institutions from that power. Rather than being defensive, food companies could mobilise their market position in support of nutrition goals.
