Self-regulation a failure, says OPC

The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has slammed Australia’s self-regulatory system for food marketing, saying it has “resolutely failed” to protect children from junk food advertising.

The OPC says its report into the processed food industry’s self-regulatory system highlights loopholes that the industry uses to continue to promote its products, despite childhood obesity reaching record levels.

“We have rigorously interrogated the current system and found it has failed in three key ways,” said Jane Martin, executive manager of the OPC.

“The codes themselves are seriously flawed, administration and enforcement of the codes are inadequate and, finally, despite the food industry introducing more codes two years ago there is no evidence any of these have reduced children’s exposure to unhealthy food advertising.”

The report, entitled Exposing the Charade, has been sent to state and federal health ministers. The OPC says the report found “major inconsistencies” in decision-making by review agencies such as the Advertising Standards Board.

“The food industry has been given ample opportunity,” Martin said. “The government must now call ‘time’ on the charade of self-regulation and legislate to give children meaningful protection from the influence of unhealthy food marketing.”

“Legislation to comprehensively restrict junk food marketing and advertising would be one of the most effective and cost-effective interventions to address the childhood overweight and obesity crisis. It would also support other strategies to improve children’s diets, nutrition and health such as physical activity and nutrition programs in schools.”

The full report is available here.