Junk food marketing to children

The Australian Food and Grocery Council has welcomed the release of a Senate Inquiry into the Protecting Children From Junk Food Advertising (Broadcasting Amendment) Bill 2008.

Australian Food and Grocery Council CEO Kate Carnell said that the fundamentally flawed bill was unnecessary as industry is already set to introduce its own Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative on 1 January 2009.

Carnell said that companies participating in this initiative will publicly commit to advertise to children under 12, only when it will further the goal of promoting healthy dietary choices and healthy lifestyles.

“Each participant will develop and make publicly available an individual company action plan that outlines how they will meet the initiative's core principles.

“Participants will not advertise food and beverage products to children under 12 in any media unless those products represent healthy dietary choices, consistent with established scientific or Australian government standards.

“Further, companies will also commit to only advertise products in the context of promoting good dietary habits and physical activity.

"The Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative is supported by major food and beverage manufacturers, the Australian Association of National Advertisers and other industry groups. These companies represent the majority of food and beverage manufacturing in Australia.

“Industry looks forward to continuing to work with governments and other stakeholders on implementing its holistic approach to issues associated with advertising and, more broadly, issues associated with childhood obesity,” Ms Carnell concluded.