How children get hooked on sugary drinks

New York Times

Nearly two-thirds of the $2.2 billion in beverages marketed to children in 2018 contained added sweeteners, according to a report released last week by the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut. The report found that the packaging and marketing of these products often leave parents confused.   Read the New York Times article here.

 

 

Why one campaigning group is ‘building a movement’ against junk food ads

Marketing Week

Bite Back 2030 has been set up as an “unstoppable movement” of young people in the UK.  Backed by chef Jamie Oliver, the aim is to halve childhood obesity in the UK by 2030. Read the article here.

 

How sugar dies in Canada — and umami thrives everywhere else

CBC

Overview on restrictions on marketing to children and the rise and fall of Bill S-228 due to extensive industry lobbying and procedural play. Listen to CBC’s Cost of Living Episode 6 here.

 

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Mexican Parliament Votes in Favour of Warning Nutrition Labels

Food Navigator

The Mexican government has voted in favour of mandatory, front-of-pack warning nutrition labels, similar to those in Chile and Peru. The bill will now go to the Senate where it is likely to be approved. The head of the World Health Organization congratulated Mexican policymakers and said he hopes more countries follow their lead and include warning signs for processed foods and beverages. Read more here.

Weight Coalition finds too many companies are marketing junk food to kids

CTV News Montreal

Food companies in Quebec are exploiting loopholes in the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) that prohibit commercial advertising that targets children under 13 years old. Coalition Poids identified 469 food packages targeting children from different businesses. Shop windows, displays and product packaging are not covered by the law. Read OpEd here.

To fix health care, start by making us less sick

CBC News  

Yves Savoie, CEO of the Heart & Stroke and Nick Saul, CEO of Community Food Centres Canada write that Canadians are getting sicker at unprecedented and crisis-level rates as a result of the food we eat that is far too often high in saturated fat, salt and/or sugar, as well as a host of additives and emulsifiers. All ingredients that are common in ultra-processed foods. Read OpED here.

The Current with Laura Lynch: Childhood Obesity

CBC Radio

Coalition co-chair, Dr. Tom Warshawki on CBC radio’s The Current with Hannah Brinsden of the World Obesity Federation discussing childhood obesity and reasonable policy interventions to protect children’s rights to health. You can listen to the interview here.

Coalition Poids: Review Food Advertising Children in Quebec

Coalition Poids Study

Coalition Poids released their study to show how much marketing to kids is still present in Quebec.  Quebec’s Loi sur la protection du consommateur du Québec, prohibits advertising aimed at children, but excludes packaging, displays and display cases.  Coalition Poids’ study found that more than 90% of products with characters and images targeting children in grocery stores are for ultra-processed food.
You can read the press release here (French), English content here, and media coverage in Le Journal de Montreal here.

 

Sugary drinks tax is working – now it’s time to target cakes, biscuits and snacks

The Conversation

Sugary drink taxes if combined with “snack taxes” may also help to reduce obesity and diabetes in the long term – as supported by a recent study published in the British Medical Journal.

Read article here. You can read that study here.

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Germany plans to introduce Nutriscore: ‘This is a milestone in nutrition policy’

Food Navigator

Germany plans to implement a national voluntary food labelling scheme in the coming year. Food Minister Julia Klockner said, “Consumers expect above all a summary rating that gives quick orientation.” The system was developed in France where it is mandatory. Read article here.