Media releases

Decade of sham junk food marketing codes failing Australian kids

24 Jul 2018
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.

Obesity Policy Coalition calls for clearer labelling of added sugar

11 Jul 2018
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...

Cartoons sweet-talking kids into sugar-laden snacks

29 Jun 2018
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's Jane Martin on pledge by Australian Beverages Council to reduce sugar across the industry

25 Jun 2018
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...

Healthier choices set to become easier in Victoria

30 Apr 2018
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.

OPC welcomes ACCC legal action against Heinz for marketing high-sugar toddler snacks as 'healthy'

19 Mar 2018
The Obesity Policy Coalition has welcomed the Federal Court's judgment that Heinz Shredz was being falsely marketed as a healthy snack for toddlers.

New evidence: Sugary soft drinks could increase cancer risk, no matter your weight

22 Feb 2018
Drinking sugary soft drinks could increase cancer risk, regardless of body size, reveals new research from Cancer Council Victoria and University of Melbourne.

Sugar, Sugar or Honey, Honey? Health Agencies Call for Clearer Labelling of 'Added Sugar'

21 Nov 2017
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.

Tipping the Scales: We must halt obesity to save Australian lives

19 Sep 2017
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.

Free toys have powerful influence on what kids want to eat: study

27 Jun 2017
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 foods aimed at kids are unhealthy: research

27 Jun 2017
More than half of supermarket products marketed at kids are unhealthy, new research from the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has revealed.

Removing sugary drinks from hospitals, health services a positive step

8 Jun 2017
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.

OPC welcomes funding boost for chronic disease and obesity prevention initiatives and research

11 May 2017
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.

Landmark report sets out ambitious roadmap to tackle obesity and unhealthy diets

20 Feb 2017
A landmark study involving more than 100 nutrition and policy experts from 53 organisations across the country has identified critical action areas for Australian governments to tackle the rise of obesity through unhealthy diets - now one of the leading causes of preventable death and disability in Australia.

4 in 5 Victorians support kilojoules on the menu: survey shows

10 Feb 2017
Leading health organisations have today congratulated the Victorian Government for passing legislation to make kilojoule labelling on menus mandatory, as new data shows the majority of Victorians support the move, along with an education campaign.
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