There is no Australian Government regulation specifically designed to protect children from unhealthy food marketing. Instead, the advertising industry has developed its own limited code about unhealthy food marketing to children. Evidence from around the world shows that self-regulatory codes are not effective in protecting children from unhealthy food marketing.
On average, unhealthy foods contribute over a third of daily energy in Australian children’s diets, with the proportion increasing with age – to as high as 40-41% for children aged 9-18 years .
A survey revealed 7 in 10 Australians agree that government should take action to protect children from unhealthy food marketing. Our community expects governments to put the health of children before corporate profits.
There is strong evidence that unhealthy food marketing influences the foods that children prefer, choose and eat.
Reducing children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing is acknowledged by public health organisations in Australia and around the world as an important and necessary step to help improve children’s diets and reduce overweight and obesity in Australia.