Latest News: Snack makers pledge to cut adverts aimed at children

Marketing of Food and Beverages to Children - Stakeholder view on policy options in Ireland. 

New: Visit our Tips for Parents, showing what you can do as parents to help your children understand advertising.

 

Every day children are targeted by hundreds of adverts for unhealthy foods (foods high in fat, sugar or salt, such as confectionary, salty snack foods, fizzy sugary drinks and fast food). These adverts appear on television, on the Internet, in shops, on packaging and in many more ways.

The National Heart Alliance and the Irish Heart Foundation are calling for a ban on TV advertising of these unhealthy foods to children because there is a vast amount of scientific evidence linking these foods to a poor diet and obesity in young people.

Parents' Concern
Parents too are very concerned and a survey has found that 78% of Irish parents said they would like to see a ban on television adverts up to 9pm.

NHA and IHF Recommendations
The Children's Food Campaign led by the National Heart Alliance and the Irish Heart Foundation has created a paper on all forms of unhealthy food marketing to children. 

 The main recommendations are:         - A healthy eating policy in schools.

- More support for parents and guardians on encouraging healthy eating in the home. 

- A healthy eating policy for children's healthcare facilities.
 
- The retail sector and manufacturers have a vital role to play.
 
 - The type and amount of food marketing to children needs to be monitored.

Sharing Information
This website's aim is to keep parents, policy makers and other interested parties informed on issues relating to food marketing to children and to encourage ongoing debate on the issue. 

We would love to hear your views on the matter, so share your views on our guestbook or send us an email and tell us what you think!  

Check the latest news section regularly for updates.....

Find out why food marketing to children is a real issue in Ireland and what we can do about it - The Children's Food Campaign Position Paper  

 

Find out what Irish parents think about food marketing to children - Research on Parents Opinions on Food Marketing to Children