273401 Manufacturing Epidemics: The Role of Global Food Producers in Global Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Epidemics

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 10:31 AM - 10:51 AM

Sanjay Basu, MD, PhD , Stanford University, Department of Medicine, Stanford, CA
The rate of increase in consumption of “unhealthy commodities” (soft drinks and processed foods that are high in salt, fat, and sugar) is fastest in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with little or no further growth expected in high-income countries (HICs). The pace at which consumption is rising in LMICs is even faster than has occurred historically in HICs. Multinational companies have now achieved a level of penetration of food markets in middle-income countries similar to what they have achieved in HICs, and this penetration corresponds to a rapid rise in cardiovascular disease and diabetes, after other socioeconomic and demographic variables are corrected for. Economic growth does not inevitably lead to higher consumption of processed foods, as data show that several countries have avoided processed food consumption and a corresponding rapid rise in diabetes and cardiovascular disease even as they achieve high levels of economic growth.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention

Learning Objectives:
Describe the accelerated rate of consumption in unhealthful foods globally Identify how consumption of unhealthful foods corresponds to a dramatic rise in chronic disease in low- and middle-income countries Identify what foods in particular seem to relate to a global rise in diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be a presenter on the content that I am responsible for because I have conducted research in global food consumption and corresponding cardiovascular disease and diabetes rates.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.