To reproduce (a more realistic example would use #[link_section]):
#![feature(used)]
#[used]
static FOO: u32 = 0;
fn main(){}
warning: static item is never used: `FOO`
--> <anon>:3:1
|
3 | static FOO: u32 = 0;
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
= note: #[warn(dead_code)] on by default