2020 media releases

Jane Martin, Obesity Policy Coalition, comment on public consultation report for development of National Obesity Strategy

20 Nov 2020
Consultation documents released today show support for more significant action by governments to empower Australians to live healthy and active lives as part of a National Obesity Strategy (NOS).

Aussie kids' personal data unprotected, as harmful digital marketing increases: landmark report reveals

19 Nov 2020
Australia is falling behind the rest of the world in protecting kids from predatory digital marketing of harmful products like alcohol, unhealthy food and gambling, according to a new report released today.

Jane Martin, Obesity Policy Coalition Executive Manager, responds to findings from The Lancet Global Burden of Disease Study

16 Oct 2020
Jane Martin, Executive Manager of the Obesity Policy Coalition has called for an accelerated approach in progressing a national obesity strategy in order to tackle Australia's poor diets and spiralling obesity epidemic.

Food industry marketing sugary baby foods as healthy, misleading consumers

24 Sep 2020
Processed baby foods that are high in added sugar from concentrated fruit ingredients are being marketed as healthy, posing a health risk to infants a new study has found.

A missed opportunity: Food ministers reject key recommendation to improve Health Star Rating system

15 Jul 2020
The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has condemned the dismissal by the Australian and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (the Forum) of the recommendation to lower the health star rating for some packaged foods, to more accurately penalise sugar and salt.

Three in four support mandatory Health Star Ratings: new survey

15 Jul 2020
As food ministers meet later this week to discuss Australia's Health Star Rating system, a new survey has found three in four Australians want the Government to mandate health stars being displayed on the front of all packaged food and drinks.

Junk food brands capitalising on lockdown

10 May 2020
Public health groups have slammed fast food corporations for their shameless marketing targeting people in isolation, health workers and bored kids during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Back to the naughty corner: McDonald's breaches marketing to kids codes again

2 Apr 2020
A McDonald's advertisement has been pulled after The Advertising Standards Community Panel (the Panel) found the company in breach of the Quick Service Restaurant Initiative for Responsible Advertising and Marketing to Children (QSRI) after a complaint by the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) was upheld.

Obesity experts criticise decade of inaction to tackle Australia's obesity epidemic

4 Mar 2020
The Obesity Policy Coalition has slammed the failure of successive governments to tackle Australia's obesity problem, despite a report published 10 years ago promising to make Australia the 'healthiest country by 2020'.

Junk food brands influence parents through kids' sport sponsorship

26 Feb 2020
New Cancer Council Victoria research has found that when unhealthy food and drink brands sponsor kids' sport programs parents are more likely to recognise, choose and view these brands in a positive light.

OPC responds to World Cancer Research Fund report on protecting children from junk food marketing

24 Jan 2020
Jane Martin, Executive Manager of the Obesity Policy Coalition has responded to the World Cancer Research Fund's report on protecting children from junk food marketing

Time to can fast food marketing targeting teens

21 Jan 2020
VicHealth and the Obesity Policy Coalition are calling for higher standards on fast food marketing to teenagers and children after new research has revealed how unhealthy food and drink ads manipulate teens into buying their products.