A report released by the Australian Food and Grocery Council highlights how ineffective self-regulation has been in decreasing children’s exposure to junk food advertising, according to the Obesity Policy Coalition.
Read more: Media release, Obesity Policy Coalition, 19 Jan 2011
Australia: Kids’ junkfood ads minimal on children’s TV, say food group
Advertisements for high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) foods aimed at children now only make up a very small portion of all food and beverage advertisements on children’s television in Australia, according to new research released by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC).
Read the research: Food and Beverage Advertising to Children – Activity Report
Read more: AusFood, 19 Jan 2011
What the AFGS’s report actually says
Lobby group, Junk Busters disagrees with the Australian Food and Grocery Council claims (above) that advertisements for junk food that directly target children make up a minor proportion of all food and beverage advertisements (just 2.4%). It says the report really found 21% of all food ads in children’s programmes were for high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) foods, but excludes many of them, claiming they were not directed to children – even though they were shown during children’s programmes. Excuses include the ad was “designed for parents who will appreciate the way the ad dramatises and celebrates an innocent part of childhood” – and therefore didn’t target children.
Read more: Junk Busters, 19 Jan 2011