Sugary drink regulations to help curb childhood obesity supported by pediatricians group, American Heart Association

ABC News

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association issued joint policy recommendations that include a sales tax and regulations on marketing.

“As a nation we have to say ‘no’ to the onslaught of marketing of sugary drinks to our children,” said Rachel K. Johnson, professor emeritus of nutrition at the University of Vermont and former chair of the AHA’s nutrition committee, in a statement. “We know what works to protect kids’ health and it’s time we put effective policies in place that bring down rates of sugary drink consumption just like we’ve done with tobacco”. Read full article here…

Senate needs to protect our health and environment

Times Colonist

Trevor Hancock writes “In recent weeks, we have seen large Canadian industries pressuring the Senate to favour their special interests over the wider health and environmental interests of Canadians. In the process, this unelected chamber is being asked to subvert the will of the elected House of Commons by delaying and effectively killing two bills”.

Is the hunt for a white chocolate Creme Egg making Britain’s kids obese?

The Guardian 
Cadbury’s Easter promotion has been criticized for encouraging children to eat hundreds of chocolates – and then there’s the row over their attempt to get kids active. The National Obesity Forum has attacked Cadbury for its promotion. “We should be trying to wean children off sugar,” said the NOF chairman, Tam Fry, “not enticing them to wolf down huge quantities of chocolate”. Read article here… 

Junk food adverts could be banned before 9pm as part of government plans to fight ‘epidemic’ of childhood obesity

The Independent 

Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the “epidemic” of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. One in three children leaves primary school overweight or obese and the number of children classed as seriously obese is at a record high, it added. Read full article here.

Read the consultation document here

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How Fast Food Advertisements Get Under Your Skin, Whether You Realize It Or Not

Huffington Post 

Studies show how ads can trigger the reward center of the brain, and it starts during childhood. Jennifer Harris, director of marketing initiatives at the University of Connecticut’s Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity said  “There are strong emotional associations that have been created through advertisements and other means. Children recognize brands and logos by the time they’re 2 years old. It’s very powerful, and once those emotional attachments are established, they’re very difficult to get rid of”. Read full article here.. 

Freedhoff: Canada’s Senate must pass bill that restricts food marketing to kids

Ottawa Citizen

OpEd by Dr. Yoni Freedhoff addressing industry myths around Bill S-228 and provide the facts. Read OpEd here…

Sample Tweets for Dr. Yoni Freedhof OpEd

English:”Bill S-228 has been studied, it has been through all of the proper channels & it is just waiting for a final vote.” @YoniFreedhoff’s op-ed on myths & stall tactics in the @OttawaCitizen. #SenCA call a vote, our kids have seen enough! Stop #Marketing2Kids #cdnpoli bit.ly/2JlYwAe

French:  “Bill S-228 has been studied, it has been through all of the proper channels and it is just waiting for a final vote” L’article de @YoniFreedhoff sur les mythes et les tactiques dilatoires dans l’@OttawaCitizen. @SenatCA nos enfants en ont assez vu #polcan https://bit.ly/2JlYwAe

It’s time to bring food marketing bill to a vote in the Senate

iPolitics | Le Devior
Great OpEd by Senator Dean, outlining challenges experienced in getting bills such as Bill S-228 passed, despite the bill undergoing extensive debate and having wide approval. Read Ottawa Citizen OpEd here | Read Le Devior OpEd here…

Sample Tweets

English: “Our children are at special risk because so many have spent their lives eating highly processed foods and are vulnerable to certain types of advertising.” @TonyDean_TO’s op-ed on Bill S-228 in @ipoliticsca  @SenateCA call a vote and stop #Marketing2Kids https://bit.ly/2CrjwPV

French: “Les enfants sont bombardés de publicités de produits de faible qualité nutritive, et ce, sur divers fronts.” @TonyDean_TO sur le projet de loi S-228 dans @LeDevoir. @SenatCA adoptez #BillS228 et restreindre les #PubDestinéeAuxEnfants https://bit.ly/2W9BgXp

How Big Tobacco Hooked Kids on Sugary Drinks

The New York Times

Researchers combing through archives discovered that cigarette makers had applied their marketing wizardry to sweetened beverages and turned generations of children into loyal customers.

“Using child-tested flavors, cartoon characters, branded toys and millions of dollars in advertising, the companies cultivated loyalty to sugar-laden products that health experts said had greatly contributed to the nation’s obesity crisis.”

Read full article here…

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Children face growing deluge of junk food ads online, public health experts warn

Telegraph UK

The World Health Organization warns that as advertisers face tighter regulation on traditional media they are moving to the less-regulated world of social media and mobile devices, where advertisements are more difficult to monitor or track. Read full article here…

Read the WHO report here (English only)

Children’s menus revised for health concerns, evolving palates: ‘Kids are not born with an innate desire for chicken nuggets’

Omaha World Herald 

 Margo Wootan, Executive Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, argues that billions of marketing dollars have created the “idea of what kid food is”, such as French fries and soda. Some restaurants are responding by beginning to offer smaller portion sizes of their regular menu for children. This article highlight how some jurisdictions in the United States have also passed laws requiring healthy options to be the default offering on children’s menus. Read article here…

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