Media releases

The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has welcomed the Federal Court's decision to order Heinz to pay $2.25 million for falsely marketing Heinz Shredz as a healthy snack for toddlers.

The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has applauded the Queensland Government for committing to restrict sugary drinks and junk foods in public hospitals and health care facilities, as well as phasing out junk food advertising near schools, public transport hubs, and sports grounds.

The Obesity Policy Coalition has taken aim at the food industry for its failure to protect children from exposure to junk food marketing, despite introducing self-regulated codes in 2009 that promised to do just that.

Statement from Jane Martin, Obesity Policy Coalition Executive Manager, following the announcement of the Federal Government’s public consultation into added sugar labelling in Australia. Added sugar can have major implications for a person’s health. So the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) believes it is critical for Australian consumers to be aware of the amount of added sugar in packaged foods, to allow them to make informed choices about the products they choose to buy. At a minimum...

Obesity experts urge Senate to consider how unhealthy food is marketed to kids in obesity inquiry Kids’ snacks and breakfast cereals featuring cartoons or character promotions are almost guaranteed to contain too much sugar, new research from the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has revealed. Of the products containing cartoons or character promotions, the following contained more than 15 grams of sugar per 100 grams*: 100% of kids’ snack bars and packets (all 30 products surveyed) 7...

Statement from Obesity Policy Coalition Executive Manager Jane Martin on today’s pledge by the Australian Beverages Council to reduce sugar across the industry: “The Australian Beverages Council’s pledge to reduce sugar in drinks by 20 per cent by 2025 is little more than an attempt to capitalise on the low-sugar trend and drive sales. “Without stronger mandatory action, including a 20% health levy and clearer nutrition labelling, it’s unlikely that this p...

Victorian fast food and supermarket chains will be required to display the kilojoule content of ready-to-eat foods on all their menus as of tomorrow, when the Victorian State Government's new kilojoule labelling law comes into effect.

The Obesity Policy Coalition has welcomed the Federal Court's judgment that Heinz Shredz was being falsely marketed as a healthy snack for toddlers.

Drinking sugary soft drinks could increase cancer risk, regardless of body size, reveals new research from Cancer Council Victoria and University of Melbourne.

A coalition of leading health agencies, the Obesity Policy Coalition, has written to the state and territory health ministers who make up the Australia New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation calling on them to urgently adopt a recommendation to identify 'added sugars' on food labels when they meet later this month.

Thirty-four leading community, public health, medical and academic groups have today united for the first time to call for urgent Federal Government action to address Australia's serious obesity problem.

New research from Cancer Council Victoria has revealed what food companies have known for decades – that supplying movie character toys with fast food has an enormous impact on what Aussie kids want to eat.

More than half of supermarket products marketed at kids are unhealthy, new research from the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has revealed.

The Obesity Policy Coalition has applauded the NSW Government for committing to remove all sugary drinks and boost healthy food choices in its hospitals and health services, in a change to take effect from December.

The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has welcomed the Federal Budget announcement of $10m for research into chronic disease prevention, $10m for walking interventions and $5 million to enable better GP interventions for patients with obesity, but obesity prevention is still incredibly underfunded.