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Page | Last updated: 08 Apr 2021

Food and non-alcoholic beverage marketing to children and adolescents - examples of policy recommendations addressing food and non-alcoholic beverage marketing to children and adolescents

Health Promotion Knowledge Gateway

In addition to those by WHO described in the text.

Restrict or eliminate marketing of certain foodsa

IASO - IOTF 2008 (pdf)

  • Adopt an international code on marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages.
  • No marketing to children of HFSS foods and associated brands.
  • Categorise HFSS foods based on nutrient profiling in line with FAO/WHO Report (WHO/FAO 2003).
  • Restrictions should include, but not be limited to, all advertisements between 06:00 and 21:00.
  • Restrict indirect advertisement of energy-dense, nutrient-poor HFSS foods to adults responsible for children.

AHA 2015 (pdf), AHA 2012 (pdf)

  • Introduce legislation to limit the marketing and advertising of low-nutrient, high-calorie foods and beverages.
  • Only allow advertisement of 'healthy'B foods (fruit, 100% fruit juice, vegetables, low-fat dairy and whole grain) that meet AHA criteria for CVD risk.
  • Allow licensed characters only for 'healthy' food advertising.
  • Discourage product placement of low-nutrient, high-calorie food brands in multiple media.
  • No partnerships between toy and fast food companies.
  • Exclude advertising, marketing and brand awareness strategies from school environments.

 

Promote health dietsa

AHA 2015 (pdf), AHA 2012 (pdf)

  • Advertising should include positive messages for 'good' nutrition.

IoM 2006

  • Food manufacturers and restaurants should use their creativity, resources, and full range of marketing practices to promote and support more healthful diets.
  • Media and entertainment industry should promote healthful foods and beverages.
  • Educational authorities and stakeholders should promote healthful diets in all aspects of school environment.

 

Provide informationa

BMA 2005

  • Develop new standards in nutritional content, food labelling.
  • Regulate nutritional labelling and health claims.

 

Monitora

IoM 2006

  • Government should designate a responsible agency with necessary resources to formally monitor progress of recommendations

A Based on the Nuffield intervention ladder as described in Public Health: ethical issues from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Nov 2007

B The adjective 'healthy' or 'unhealthy' to characterise a specific food or a food category is reported here as used in the original source of information and could have different meanings. WHO states that unhealthy foods can be defined in various ways, such as using national food-based dietary guidelines, or as identified in expert reports such as Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases, WHO Technical Report 916.