Food for Health Alliance has welcomed a call by crossbench MPs for the Federal Government to set higher standards to protect children from unhealthy food marketing and prevent childhood obesity.
Dr Sophie Scamps, Zali Steggall, Rebekha Sharkie, Allegra Spender, Andrew Wilkie, and Dr Helen Haines have joined forces to highlight the urgent need for greater regulation of the marketing of harmful products in Australia, including unhealthy food, gambling and alcohol.
Jane Martin, Executive Manager of Food for Health Alliance, said it’s time for the government to put children’s health above the processed food industry’s profits.
“Our children should be free to go about their daily lives without being bombarded by ads for unhealthy food and sugary drinks. These ads are the wallpaper that surrounds their lives, influencing diets and shaping their palates from an early age,” said Ms Martin.
In relation to marketing of unhealthy food, Dr Scamps told Parliament that Australia should move to align with 40 other countries that have implemented, or plan to implement, regulations to protect children from unhealthy food marketing.
Food for Health Alliance supports strong government action to protect children from unhealthy food marketing, with the Brands Off Our Kids! campaign calling for governments to take four actions for a childhood free from unhealthy food marketing. Learn more about the campaign here.
Food for Health Alliance looks forward to Dr Sophie Scamps MP introducing her Private Members Bill to regulate junk food advertising in the near future.