Tag Archive for: marketing restrictions

Confronting obesity in Canada

Canadian Bar Association – National

The outlook for an improved food environment remains bleak as policymakers focus on stamping out COVID-19 and reviving the economy. While the early Trudeau government prioritized these health measures, it has since backed down when faced with industry opposition — and dire warnings about financial consequences. “For sure, COVID has thrown a monkey wrench in the works,” said Tom Warshawski, chair of the Childhood Obesity Foundation. Once the COVID fire is manageable, Warshawski added, legislation will get back on track. “They will make good. We can’t afford not to.”  Read the article here.

Junk food marketers found targeting children on social media without repercussions

Medical XPress

A new study has found that while most major social media platforms have restrictions on the advertising of tobacco, alcohol and gambling to children, there are hardly any such restrictions in place around junk food. The study’s authors contend that the potential role of social media platforms in regulating junk food marketing has largely escaped attention. Read the article here

You can read the study here

Childhood Obesity: Research backs case for stricter advertising regulations

Food Navigator 

Fresh research across Europe suggests children are falling through the gaps of regulations aimed at preventing childhood obesity. Research in Spain and Slovenia shows that even legally binding measures, as they currently stand, are not enough to prevent childhood obesity. Read more here

 

Extra dip? Why advertising junk food must be strictly regulated

News 24 (South Africa) 

Evidence from South Africa’s tobacco control efforts indicates that exposure to junk foods through marketing can be reduced with legislation. Today smoking rates and exposure to tobacco through advertising and sponsorships have decreased significantly.   Similar to smoking, excess consumption of heavily marketed, highly processed, unhealthy food is associated with non-communicable diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The use of legislation to create food environments that enable healthy diets is globally recognized as one of the approaches to reducing non-communicable diseases.  Read more here

 

‘Broad support’ for taxes on unhealthy food in Germany

Food Navigator

In an online survey, researchers from the Marketing for Food and Agricultural Products research group at the University of Gottingen asked consumers about various measures currently under discussion, such as advertising bans on children’s food with high sugar content, or sugar and soft drink taxes.  Overall, 60% of those surveyed were in favour of nutrition policy action by the state.  Read more here

 

Are food politics defeating Canada’s healthy eating strategy?

CBC News
An article that discusses the effect industry lobbying has had on marketing to kid restrictions and front of package labelling, two pillars of the Liberal Government’s healthy eating strategy. Read here…

Stressed Parents Make Unhealthy Food Choices for Children

The Swaddle
Stressed-out people make bad food decisions, eating higher-calorie foods and eating more often. Stressed-out parents may be making those unhealthy choices for the children who depend on their judgment, new research finds. Read more…