Children’s Rights vs Corporate Interests: Unhealthy food advertising in Australia

1. Children’s Rights vs Corporate Interests:Unhealthy food advertising in Australia 5th October 2013 Jane Martin Executive Manager

2. The grim reality – children’s health 25% of Australian Children are overweight or obese  risk of overweight and obesity in adulthood  risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Heavily influenced by environmental exposure to advertising and marketing Significant consumers of sugary drinks, fast food and processed foods. Large numbers of children don’t eat the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables Families of low socioeconomic status experience higher levels of overweight and obesity

3. Children’s “rights” in context Ethical obligations to protect children from corporate influence are impacted by: Children’s vulnerability – lack of cognitive capacity to critically assess commercial messaging; Lack of ability to shape their own environments; The significance of the life-long impacts they experience following early development of dietary habits and attitudes.

5. Environments – marketing saturation. TV – free to air, pay TV, product placement, commercials, sports broadcasts Websites, games, apps, “sharing” on Facebook, competitions, peer endorsement, i-pads Sport and activities – sponsorship, prizes, programs, uniforms, merchandise Schools and settings – vending machines, canteens, programs, sport Giveaways, toys, movie tie-ins, collectables, colouring competitions. Packaging – celebrity endorsement, sports stars, health and nutrient claims, characters

6. TV Environments

7. Online Environments

8. Sponsorship of Children’s Sport

9. Policy Change – A role for government • Legislative reform to control all forms of advertising – TV, online, print… • Apply to all unhealthy food, defined by government standards • Administered by an independent body • Meaningful sanctions, enforcement, disincentives • Regular review and monitoring • Define key terms “children” “unhealthy food” etc

10. Policy change – People Power