The study’s authors said the results highlighted the irony that New Zealand and Australian taxpayers were paying for the escalating costs of chronic disease in Pacific nations – through aid funding – while Australasian companies profited from unhealthy exports to these countries.
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New Zealand is the largest exporter of sugary drinks to the Pacific Islands, where diet-related chronic disease is the leading cause of death. (File photo) Associate Professor Lisa Te Morenga, from Massey University’s Research Centre for Hauora and Health, said it was “incredibly disappointing” that New Zealand was the biggest earner from sweetened drinks exports to the Pacific.
Press Release – Science Media Centre New Zealand-based companies are earning more from increased exports of sugary drinks to the Pacific, while Kiwi taxpayers are helping pay for rising healthcare costs. The finding is from Australian research , which shows imports of sweetened drinks …
New Zealand-based companies are earning more from increased exports of sugary drinks to the Pacific, while Kiwi taxpayers are helping pay for rising healthcare costs.
The finding is from Australian research, which shows imports of sweetened drinks to Pacific countries increased by an average of 0.3 kg per person each year from 2000 to 2015.
The SMC asked experts to comment on the research.