"Big food," the consumer food environment, health, and the policy response in South Africa

In 2000, an estimated 36,504 deaths (7% of all deaths) in South Africa were attributed to excess body weight [6], and in 2004 non-communicable diseases (NCDs) linked to dietary intake--cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, cancers--together with respiratory diseases contributed 12% of the overall disease burden [7]. [...]we suggest that the South African government should develop a plan to make healthy foods such as fruit, vegetables, and whole grain cereals more available, affordable, and acceptable, and non-essential, high-calorie, nutrient-poor products, including soft drinks, some packaged foods and snacks, less available, more costly, and less appealing to the South African population.