Media Releases

“Marketing is just washing over this country like a tidal wave, and we’re trying to give people swimming lessons.”

—Kelly D. Brownell, UConn Rudd Center

Coalition praises new bill to stop food and beverage marketing to kids

Bill C-252 undergoing second reading debate

Ottawa, ON – May 6, 2022 – The Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition commends Patricia Lattanzio, Member of Parliament for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, as she moves Bill C-252 to second reading today in the House of Commons. Private Member’s Bill C-252 aims to prohibit the marketing of food and beverages high in sugar, saturated fats or sodium to children under 13 years of age. Read more…

Sugary Drinks : Over-consumed, unnecessary and harmful

June 7, 2021 – Coalition Poids, The Childhood Obesity Foundation and Heart & Stroke call on all levels of government to follow the lead of Newfoundland and Labrador and introduce a sugary drinks levy that can be reinvested in prevention as a promising strategy to bring greater health and economic benefits. Read more…

Pediatricians urge Senate to pass children’s health bill: Bill S-228 will die if not passed by end of session

June 17, 2019 – The Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition is calling attention to a communication to Senators in The Hill Times urging the Senate to pass Bill S-228 before the end of the current parliamentary session. Known as the Child Health Protection Act, the bill would restrict the marketing of foods and beverages high in sugar, salt and saturated fat to children 12 and under. The communication, an urgent plea to senators, was placed by the Canadian Paediatric Society (which is an endorsing organization of the Coalition) and the Pediatric Chairs of Canada. Read more…

Canadians served opportunity to have their say about healthy eating

July 30, 2017 -Heart & Stroke welcomes the recent announcement by Health Canada to launch two public consultations as part of its Healthy Eating Strategy. These consultations will allow Canadians to have input around two public policy areas that can significantly support them to be able to make healthy food choices for themselves and their families. Read more…

16 and Under Campaign

May 23, 2017 – To rally support for federal legislation intended to restrict food and beverage marketing to all children in Canada, Heart & Stroke’s next step in its fight against marketing to kids uses a new (and entirely fictional) advertising agency called “16 and Under” that exclusively creates ads targeting kids. Read more…

The food and beverage industry is marketing our children and youth to death

February 1, 2017 – New research reveals advertising restrictions urgently needed to protect kids and support parents. Read more…

Celebrity Chef and Health Experts Stir Up Excitement Around Childhood Obesity

October 7, 2016 – Jamie Oliver and Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition identify areas for immediate action. Read more…

Health coalition gives proposed legislation to protect children a gold star

September 28, 2016 – The Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition applauds Senator Nancy Greene Raine for introducing legislation prohibiting food and beverage marketing to children. Read more…

Heart and Stroke Foundation applauds Senate committee recommendations

March 1, 2016 – The Heart and Stroke Foundation praises the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology for its comprehensive report on obesity and important nutrition policy recommendations that will have a real impact on the health of Canadians. Read more…

Health organizations tell food industry: pick on someone your own age

February 24, 2016 – Co-led by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Childhood Obesity Foundation, the Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition says the time has come to protect children and to support parents to make healthy decisions for their families. Read more…

85% of Canadian parents want government to place limits on advertising unhealthy foods and beverages to children

May 9, 2013 – Approximately 20 health organizations have joined together in light of Canada Health Day 2013 to support of a policy statement calling for a restriction on marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children. Read more…

Other Stop M2K News

Why now? Time to stop marketing to kids in Canada

You may be asking yourself why stop marketing to kids and why now? Momentum has been building. Health organizations met in November 2014 to discuss the latest evidence around food and beverage marketing to children and developed the framework for what would become the Ottawa Principles. Since that meeting, 30 organizations across Canada have endorsed the Ottawa Principles.

Prior to the 2015 federal election, both the NDP and Liberal parties committed to introducing restrictions on the commercial marketing on unhealthy food and beverages to children. After the election, the Prime Minister reinforced this commitment by making these restrictions a top priority in the November 2015 mandate letter to the newly appointed Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Philpott.

The World Health Organization has repeatedly listed restrictions to marketing to kids as a policy option to support healthy eating and reduce childhood obesity, most recently in their January 2016 report of the commission on ending childhood obesity.

Earlier this year, 11 leading health organizations came together to launch Canada’s Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition on February 24 2016. Our vision is clear: “We envision a Canada where children and parents make nutritious food choices in an environment free of influence from food and beverage marketing to children.”

Less than a week later on March 1 2016, the Senate Committee Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology released their report, Obesity in Canada: A Whole-of-Society Approach for a Healthier Canada. The report makes 21 recommendations, including a recommendation to restrict food and beverage marketing to children.

So why now? Because the timing is right. Government and health organizations agree that our children deserve to be protected from food and beverage marketing. Together, we have an unprecedented opportunity to adopt robust, evidence-informed marketing to kid restrictions that will become the envy of the world and position Canada as a global leader in child health. Let’s make it happen. Add your voice and help us take action today.

By Elizabeth Holmes, Health Policy Analyst, Canadian Cancer Society, National Office

April 2016 – Obesity in Canada

Toronto looking to ban ‘unhealthy’ food ads aimed at kids

Metro

On April 25, 2016, the board of health voted to seek support from the federal government to ban commercial advertising to children aged 16 and under. The vote follows a report from the city of Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, that noted recommendations to protect children 16 and younger from being exposed to unhealthy eating habits. Read more…