Snack firms pledge obesity fight

More than £200m has been pledged by several food and drinks companies, including Coca-Cola, Kellogg's, Mars and Nestle, in a bid to tackle obesity.

 The funding comes amid a plea by the
Health Secretary Alan Johnson for help with the growing problem. A
consortium of firms, headed by the Advertising Association, has
offered air space, on-pack messages and cash. The Department of
Health said the companies and coalitions would have to sign up to a
set of standards.

Specific details of the government-led
campaign, called Change4Life, which will launch in the autumn, will
be devised over the next few months.

The aim of the package is to encourage
people to eat healthily and exercise in the build up to the London
2012 Olympics.