Many Australian food and beverage companies say they will stop advertising junk food to children under 12 years from early next year. They will still advertise products promoting healthy lifestyles. And they will still advertise junk food to parents.
The Australian Food and Grocery Council’s voluntary code applies to TV and other media such as radio and the Internet as well as licensed cartoon characters. The rules apply to children’s TV programmes or programmes predominently watched by children. However, children will still see junk food ads when watching popular family programmes such as the Simpsons.
Health groups say the food industry code is just an attempt to stall off possible regulation. Several states are considering introducing regulations to ban junk food advertising to children.
Parents Jury respond to AFGC marketing code
The Parents Jury has concerns about the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s new voluntary code on restricting advertising to children under 12 years.
“The proposed code will only regulate ads shown during programs specifically for children under 12 and will not cover the peak viewing time slot of between 6pm and 9pm when large numbers of children are watching popular programs and many unhealthy foods ads are shown. Fast food giants such as McDonalds, KFC and Hungry Jacks are not members of AFGC and will not be obliged to adopt the new code,” they say on their website. Government regulation is needed.
Read more: Media release, Parent’s Jury, 24 Oct 2008
Junk food ads ban ‘too little, too late’
Health groups say moves by the food industry to restrict junk food advertising to children is just an attempt to stall off possible government regulation.
Read more: SMH, 23 Oct 2008
Australian food companies agree not to push junk on kids
Read more: AFP, 23 Oct 2008
Industry to Address Community Concerns about Inappropriate Advertising to Kids
Read more: Media release, Australian Food and Grocery Council, 24 Oct 2008
