A report by Olivier de Schutter, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the right to food, shows that it is not just about the right not to starve, it is also about the right to an adequate diet.

Schutter notes by allowing “agrifood” industries to sell fattening food at low prices and thereby creating unhealthy environments, Western governments are violating the human rights of their constituents. The report also notes that over one billion people are overweight or obese, putting them at risk for noncommunicable diseases like heart disease or diabetes.

Schutter argues that governments should ban trans fat, regulate the advertising of unhealthy foods, promote accessibility to fresh produce and encourage the spread of farmers’ markets. He also suggests that governments should implement a 10 percent tax on soda and junk food. This could reduce consumption of such products and billions could be raised to  support health measures.

Read more about it on Huffington Post.

What do you think? A nanny-state or a good healthy idea?