Customers' healthy eating habits are not Kraft Foods' sole motivation for altering its products as the food maker confesses it is fearful about obesity-related lawsuits.

McDonalds, which is facing a lawsuit from a group of obese children, now promotes a new range of salads on its menu.

Coca Cola and Pepsi have also been condemned for marketing deals where schools are given extra funds for stocking only the donor's drinks.

Will Kraft manage to create healthier eating habits amongst its customers? Can the multinationals be blamed for the epidemic of obesity across America and Britain? How has our culture changed so much that people are becoming so overweight?

Thank you for your e-mails. This debate is now closed. The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:

SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Nic Reznic, US I'm alarmed by Kraft reducing their portion sizes - I'd like to hear what Europeans think about this creative nutritional accounting Send us your suggestions for Have Your Say debates

The younger generations in today's western societies are the first to have grown up in an environment where food containing high fat, high sugar is readily available. Of course when we are constantly exposed to commercials, fast food restaurants, offering us huge portions of great tasting food, it is no wonder that you can find yourself eating a day's worth of calories in one sitting. It is a basic human instinct to consume as much food as possible while it is available in order to build energy to survive future periods when food is scarce. It is going to be a difficult task, but reducing the availability and consumption of high calorie, low nutrition foods is the only way to tackle the obesity epidemic - reducing portion sizes is definitely a step in the right direction.
Sarah, US

Only until our lifestyles change will our eating habits follow Aaron, US

It doesn't matter what size the portions, we Americans are a gluttonous, consumerist, sometimes lazy nation. We are a country of couch potatoes, internet addicts, video gamers, movie watchers, and junk food lovers. Many of us are also tired and overworked giving little time to eat healthy and exercise. Since our lifestyle is "on the go," we often opt for fast food or microwave meals. Only until our lifestyles change will our eating habits follow.
Aaron, USA

Most people would be quite shocked to learn just how little food it actually takes to keep a person healthy. Heated houses eliminate the need to keep warm. Even climbing a 1000 metre mountain once a week, as our hiking group does, really takes very little food energy.
Brian McConnell, Canada

Shame and will-power are now out of style; here in the USA there's never been much of either. "Just say more" is the approach; myself at age 55 being a slim older woman am generally treated like a leper. When I was a child people were shamed for being fat - good! A person who eats more than his/her share is stealing from someone else, ethically speaking. Time to go back to shaming gluttony and to back away from the cliff-edge of tolerating obesity.
Alice Winfree Bowron, USA

If Americans consume large quantities of beef which is full of hormones given to the animal to make it grow to a size in 18 months which it would normally take a steer to reach in some 4-5 years..... they must be ingesting some of these hormones which surely could make humans "grow" too!!!! Kraft foods would not be the only fattening agent.
Brenda Wade, Hong Kong

Smaller portions will not make a difference. But a change in taxation might. Foods high in fat and sugar with no nutritional value must be taxed more and carry health warnings on them (just like alcohol and tobacco). Farmers must be subsidised to produce more organic fruits/vegetables and meat. Healthy foods must be made less expensive and more available. Hopefully those with no brain and/or willpower on them will make rational decisions with their wallet.
Oksana, UK

It seems that the American public cannot take responsibility for their own actions, smoking, eating etc, but rather look to blame others for their own inadequacies. Only you choose to continually stuff food down your throats or smoke 30 a day, no-one is forcing you.
Scott, South Africa

Sedentary lifestyles are to blame Patrick, USA

I don't think that multinationals can be blamed for the obesity crisis - and it is a crisis. I believe it is cultural. Sedentary lifestyles are to blame and combined with fatty food we have an overweight nation. When I was a soldier we ate like horses and I only weighed 165 lbs when I got out 5 years later. I realize that a regular person can't be that active but they can tailor their diet to suite the amount of calories they burn.
Patrick, USA

Cynical marketing rears its head. Confronted with smaller portions, big eaters will simply consume more of them. Ergo - profits increase.
C. Hunter, England

Eat less. Eat more healthily and do some exercise. It's not hard.
Paul Driscoll, UK

Lack of time is no excuse for using convenience food, I work an 7.5 hour shift a have a two hour drive, to and from work, and I still manage to eat healthily. Like James UK says, education is the key, most people don't know the difference between a fat and a lipid, and that 'low fat' means high sugar, if you knew what you were putting into your body, you would soon make an extra 20 minutes in front of the stove instead of the TV.
Paul, Leeds, UK

Here, in the Ukraine, people all their lives eat rich food, and we have very little overweight people. I eat everything I want (even in the evening) and weight 55 kilograms (my height is 170 centimetres). Americans forgot how to walk - they use cars everywhere - very lazy nation. Make more movements, walk a lot, eat less, and you will be slim.
Yulia, Ukraine

This action won't make for slimmer humans, just fatter companies F, UK

Parents should exercise some dietary restraints on their children - 12 year-olds weighing 20 stone is tantamount to child abuse. Doctors and schools should also ensure big children are put on healthy eating diets and take exercise. Cutting the portions in a packet won't solve anything, people will just buy more. This action won't make for slimmer humans, just fatter companies.
F, UK

It will just result in greater profits for Kraft. Smaller packs will be comparatively more expensive. If packs of Oreos get smaller, people will just buy more. It's as simple as that. The only way to change our country's culture of obesity is through long-term education.
Hank, Minnesota, USA

It's pretty simple really. People with food intake problems should seek help. Those who are simply gluttons should stop eating so much. Big food chains should stop selling fatty foods with no nutritional value. Overall, the human race needs to adopt some common sense and foresight. There is more to obesity than diet, yes, but it is a major factor.
George, UK

Much like the "light" beer campaigns of years past, our consumption of these products will, likewise, increase to make up the difference. What a great marketing ploy.
Greg, USA

I think people should eat healthier portions but it doesn't really matter what you eat as long as you use up the energy in the food by exercising, something a lot of people do not do enough of. People should be getting at least 1 hour's worth of exercise a day, or 4 spells of 15 minutes at least.
Laura, Scotland

Selling smaller portions at the same price may not necessarily affect obesity rates, but my guess would be that it will have a fattening effect on Kraft's profits.
Matthew, England

Companies cannot be blamed for the foolishness and lack of willpower exercised by the public. If consumers were just to exercise their lungs and legs more than their jaws and stomach, they wouldn't get so fat.
Jon, Canada

In America, the idea of MORE equates to better. Also, middle class children were brought up to "clean their plate" due to "starving children in Africa". With these values, excessive marketing, and super-sized meals we are blooming! Portion awareness is a key element to maintaining one's weight. Although there is MORE to conquer, it is a step in the right direction.
Lisa Gutierrez, USA

Surely the answer is education? I believe if people knew how much fat, sugar etc these food products contained, and the implications of eating them they would cut back. Parents and schools should promote healthy eating habits.
James, UK

Is it any wonder that people grab a processed meal and then collapse on the sofa? Paula, UK

I'm also going to blame the long hours work culture. If you finish at 5 and have a twenty minute journey home there is plenty of time to make a good nutritious meal and then go out and indulge in an active hobby. If you're stuck in the office until 7 and then have an hour commute home is it any wonder that people grab a processed meal and then collapse on the sofa?
Paula, UK

Eat less but better. Avoid over-advertised processed dreck. Exercise more. Develop some willpower. It's not exactly rocket science.
Mark, UK

It's like saying that light cigarettes will make you smoke less! what a joke - you'll just eat more of them! Corporate America is pulling the same old trick again - let's pretend we care for the well-being of the people and they will love us more.
Ivana , Denmark

Considering the importance that diet has on our health and lifestyles, basic nutrition should be taught in schools, using as examples the foods we regularly consume. Children learn their eating habits from family and peers, information and education would help them make informed choices. What child or adult would eat a burger or chicken nugget after visiting an abattoir? Look up the word "processed" in the dictionary, a series of operations to achieve an end, higher profits.
Shaun, Wales,UK

I am only 33 but feel as if I must have been born before the Second World War. If you think smaller portions of processed food will help you lose weight, go out to the shops (walk for a change) and buy a potato peeler. Use this and other zany contraptions to prepare fresh food.
PS Vegetables are those green things that look like small trees.
Toby, UK

Certain companies have been doing this for years. A popular tin of beans now contains 400g instead of 440g a few years ago. It's just a cost reduction method.
Steve, UK

As far as our changing culture, this is obviously a high contributor to obesity. If there wasn't the constant pressure to get things done quickly, more people would be able to take the time to prepare healthier foods.
Jon Lipscombe, UK

If only people didn't kid themselves about what they actually eat Antonia, London, England

I seriously recommend the Montignac method which explains that it's not necessarily how much we eat but what we eat. It is surely common sense that our bodies are not designed to process unnatural foods (that includes, specifically, refined sugar and e numbers!) If only people were taught the basics of nutrition and then didn't kid themselves about what they actually eat.
Antonia, London, England

I do not believe there is any such thing as junk food - but there are junk diets. If people cannot judge moderation for themselves, maybe portion reduction will help. Exercise would help more.
Justin, Belgium

So, will Kraft be reducing the prices of their products? Or is this another way increasing the price?
Dom, UK

No, it won't work. People will just buy two packets instead of one. The American and increasingly British capitalist lifestyle is the cause of obesity. Family structure has broken down under the 24/7 working patterns enforced. People don't have time to cater properly and need quick gratification rather than at set times.

Western culture is now run by lawyers Peter, UK

If you don't undertstand that eating fatty foods makes you fat then what hope is there? The whole of Western culture is now run by lawyers for their own benefit.I am overweight, I eat too much and drink too much, but nobody is to blame apart from me.
Peter, UK

This hunger is more quickly satisfied by the unhealthy foods which are much more widely available. They tend to have far longer shelf lives and cheaper manufacturing processes. The French down tools for two hours every lunchtime and mostly go home to eat. They don't have too much of an obesity problem.
Helen, England

I think the multinationals are very much to blame. And so are governments for letting them get away with it. The ballooning obesity levels in certain populations are evidence enough that individuals are unable to make healthier lifestyle choices - for whatever reason. Any person or corporation in a position of power or influence should therefore be required by law to behave with a certain degree of collective responsibility.
Richard, UK

In a free market companies will always act in the interest of their future profits so we can't rely on them to protect our health unless there's something in it for them. So it has to come down to individuals taking responsibility for their own health, with government help by way of health education and encouragement for sport.
Alan, UK