Afghanistan was a founding member of the confederation in the 1950s before entering long periods of war and factional fighting.

"It is much more than just a kind of bread. It is a symbol of France—it's like the Eiffel Tower," said Dominigue Anract, president of the Confederation of French Bakers.

The Confederation of British Industry, a business lobby group, estimates that 15 billion pounds could be saved by treating chronic diseases at home.