Why we need to get junk food brands off our kids

Every child should be able to play, learn and live in a world that supports and promotes their wellbeing without seeing ads promoting products that harm their health.

But everyday, the processed food industry bombards our kids with unhealthy food and drink advertisements. These ads influence what our kids eat, want and ask for – putting their health at risk now and into the future. 

Read our report

 

How big is the problem

The research shows us:

  • Australian children see three unhealthy food ads every hour during children’s peak TV viewing times
  • 6 in 10 food ads on Melbourne’s public transport are for unhealthy food.
  • Children aged 13 to 17 are exposed to almost 100 online promotions for unhealthy food every week.
  • 95% of children aged 2 to 17 years did not meet the recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables.

How junk food advertisers target kids

Processed food companies spend millions of dollars every year targeting kids with highly effective advertising tactics. These include:

  • Paying social media influencers popular with kids to promote unhealthy products
  • Paying for ads during TV shows that are popular with kids
  • Putting cartoons on unhealthy food packets
  • Putting unhealthy food ads in children’s social media feeds
  • Giving away free toys with fast food meals
  • Sponsoring children’s sport and professional sports leagues (i.e. AFL, cricket)
  • Putting their ads on public transport

The lack of regulation in Australia

Currently, Australian governments have no formal standards that protect children from unhealthy food marketing – that's right, none!

Instead, the advertising industry has been allowed to design its own codes for how they market unhealthy food to children. Unsurprisingly, these codes only apply in limited circumstances and are not designed to stop the unhealthy food marketing that children see.

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Let’s take action to protect our kids

Our community expects government to take action to prioritise children’s health above the profits of the processed food industry.

Evidence shows 2 out of 3 Australian adults want government to step in to protect children from unhealthy food marketing.


The Brands off our kids campaign is calling on the Australian Government to take four actions to protect Australian children:

 

01

Make all online environments free from unhealthy food marketing;

Smart Phone

02

Ensure TV, radio and similar media are free from unhealthy food marketing at all times when children are watching or listening

Television

03

Make all public spaces, public events and retail environments free from unhealthy food marketing; and

Bus ads

04

Prevent companies from marketing unhealthy food directly to children with tactics like cartoons on product packaging, toys and prizes.

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We need your support

Take action today and help set our kids up for a healthy future.

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