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

Stop Marketing To Kids Youth Team Recruitment

Are you passionate about social change? Health? Do you want to be part of a movement in Canada working towards restricting harmful food and beverage marketing to children? Then read on!

In 2016, the Minister of Health launched a Healthy Eating Strategy as part of the Government’s vision for a healthy Canada that included restricting the commercial marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children. However, this commitment has never been fulfilled.

The Stop M2K Coalition is seeking young Canadian leaders to join our youth team as we continue to advocate for restrictions to food and beverage marketing to kids. With your help, Canada has the potential to become a world leader in advancing children’s health, and public health, for generations to come. The selected candidates will play a key leadership role in mobilizing young Canadians to campaign for robust restrictions to food and beverage marketing that targets children and youth unfairly.

WHAT DOES A MEMBER OF THE STOP M2K DO?

  • Dedicates 2-3 volunteer hours a week.
  • With support engages and mobilizes youth to advocate for restrictions to food and beverage marketing to children and youth.
  • With support, tracks success metrics and evaluates impact of this youth-led campaign

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Young leaders looking to: learn more about this issue, sharpen their social change skills, build a track record of leadership and success and leave a legacy of positive change in Canada:

  • Ideal candidates are 18 to 30 years old
  • Successful candidates must be able to commit 2-3 hrs/week of volunteer time to this initiative consistently throughout 2021 & 2022.
  • Candidates with communications and social media experience are preferred

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

  • Being a key member of a youth-lead team that has potential to help shape federal restrictions
  • Gaining social change campaign development and social media experience
  • Working with Canada’s leading health organizations
  • Being a part of creating a healthier nation–and world–for children and youth

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a resume and answers to the following questions (maximum 300 words) to corrine@stopmarketingtokids.ca:

  1. What interests you about ending food and beverage marketing to kids in Canada?
  2. Describe one creative way in which you think we could engage other young Canadians in this movement.
  3. Why do you think you are a good candidate for this leadership opportunity?

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, August 6 2021 at 11:59PM, EDT

Would you support a sugar tax?

CBC Radio Maritime Connection 

Following the news that the province of Newfoundland & Labrador was introducing a sugar levy in April 2022, Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition co-chair Dr. Tom Warshawski was interviewed on CBC Radio’s Maritimes Connection program to discuss the benefits of a sugar levy. Listen here

Skipping a trip to the grocery store may lead to fewer junk food purchases

CNN 

Study participants who ordered their groceries online spent less money on junk food compared to when they shopped in person, according to a study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Lead study author Laura Zatz, a senior adviser at The Behavioural Insights Team, said “Online shopping allows shoppers to avoid abundant in-store marketing and enticing food stimuli, which encourages us to add items to our basket that we didn’t plan to purchase,” she said. Read more…