Media Releases

Peak health and community organisations have written to senior leaders in Coca-Cola's Australian and New Zealand operations calling for the company to stop weight-washing the issue of obesity with expensive advertising, and instead take practical steps to address the core drivers of weight gain.

As part of a policy announcement, the Greens have confirmed they will target junk food advertisers as part of a preventative health plan to tackle childhood obesity.

Community protests in the Dandenong Ranges against the development of a 24-hour McDonald's fast food outlet highlights the urgent need for potential health impacts to be considered in planning decisions, according to the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC).

For the second time in two weeks Kellogg's has been forced to withdraw two TV advertisements after a complaint from the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) was upheld by the Advertising Standards Board (ASB).

A complaint made by the Obesity Policy Coalition about a Kellogg's TV commercial directed to children has been upheld by the Advertising Standards Board this week and the ad has been removed from viewing.

Claims such as 'Good source of calcium and protein' and sports star endorsements on food packaging do influence children's choices.

A coalition of leading health agencies is calling on the Victorian Government to implement kilojoule and traffic light labelling on fast food menus in light of new research showing the combination of information can lead consumers to make healthier choices.

Today, the Obesity Policy Coalition, a coalition of leading health bodies, has released one of the most comprehensive investigations into Australia's self-regulatory system for food marketing ever undertaken.

The government and the Australian public should be wary of the Australian Food and Grocery Council's (AFGC) Healthier Australia Commitment, which was launched today, according to the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC).

The Victorian Health Monitor has found that obesity prevalence in Victoria has been grossly underestimated. The report found that, when measured, almost 25 per cent of the Victorian population has a BMI in the obese category, which is much higher than the 17 per cent rate based on self-reporting.

The OPC has backed an election commitment announced today by the ACT Greens to restrict junk food advertising directed at children. The proposed plan would mean junk food advertising was no longer able to be shown on TV when large numbers of children are watching.

Amid post-Olympics calls to review Australia's sporting performance, a coalition of health agencies has urged the government to restrict junk food companies from investing in junior sport and instead assist organisations to find more appropriate sponsors.

There is strong public support for the introduction of policy initiatives to support healthy eating.

Walt Disney has announced it will institute a junk food advertising ban on programs for children across its networks.

A coalition of leading health agencies, the Obesity Policy Coalition is calling on the Victorian Government to kick junk food brand promotion out of children's sports in light of the latest incursion by McDonald's into junior football yesterday – the Mac Pack.