All children deserve to grow up in a community that supports their health. But this is impossible when the processed food industry bombards kids with unhealthy food marketing, day in and day out.
As part of the Food for Health Alliance’s Brands off our kids! campaign, 40 public health and community organisations, and celebrities, including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, joined a chorus of Australian public health experts and groups calling on the federal government to protect kids from junk food advertising.
Jane Martin with Jamie Oliver
Housed at Cancer Council Victoria, Food for Health Alliance is a partnership between Cancer Council Victoria, VicHealth, Healthway, and Deakin University, that advocates for laws and policies to improve our food environment.
Executive Manager, Food for Health Alliance, Jane Martin said currently the processed food industry has license to infiltrate every aspect of kids’ lives with junk food advertising — surrounding them like wallpaper.
“Every ad for burgers, sugary drinks or a fast-food meal deal undermines what kids know about a nutritious diet and powerfully shapes their preferences. By eating more unhealthy foods, children are more likely to be above a healthy weight and face an increasing risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and 13 types of cancer later in life,” said Jane.
In an open letter to Australia’s Health Minister Mark Butler, Cancer Council Victoria, other health organisations, and concerned individuals asked the Federal Government to put in place laws that will protect our kids from unhealthy food advertising. This includes making online environments free from unhealthy food marketing; ensuring there is no unhealthy food marketing on TV, radio and similar media at times when kids are watching and listening; and stopping unhealthy food companies from using marketing tactics that directly target children.
Cancer Council Victoria is committed to creating a community that supports our kids’ health and wellbeing, making it easier to eat nutritious diets and live well now and into the future.
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