Australian companies agree not to advertise junk food during kids' TV programs
SYDNEY —
Major Australian food and drink manufacturers Friday agreed not to advertise junk food during children’s television programs, as they face growing public pressure about childhood obesity.
The Australian Food and Grocery Council’s voluntary code commits companies to directly targeting children under 12 only when it promotes healthy dietary choices and lifestyles.
But the code, which is supported by some 150 companies accounting for 80% of Australian sales in highly processed food and drink sectors, will not include hamburger giant McDonald’s and competitor KFC.
The council said the new rules will apply to all television, radio, print, cinema and Internet advertising as well as the use of licensed cartoon and other characters aimed at children.
“The aim of the initiative is to ensure that only healthy foods and beverages are advertised during television shows predominantly watched by primary school-aged children,” the council’s chief executive Kate Carnell said.
The self-regulating code comes as governments in several state governments move to introduce tough laws banning junk food advertising targeting children as they attempt to counter childhood obesity.
Carnell said the self-regulated code, which will start by early 2009 and be overseen by an independent arbiter, would be more effective than new laws.
But the Obesity Policy Coalition, which campaigns for obesity prevention, said children would still be exposed to television and other fast food advertising while watching mainstream programs.
“That’s a real problem because the highest rating programs for kids aren’t programs that are made for kids,” the coalition’s Jane Martin told national news agency AAP.
A report issued by Baker Heart Institute in June found that obesity was the major threat to Australia’s future health, with an estimated nine million of the 21 million population obese or overweight.
Wire reports
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smithinjapan
I'm sure they'll fine loopholes in the agreement. I could easily say that 'pizza isn't junkfood if it's thin crust and has a low level of meat. Pizza Hut has that option, so we advertise Pizza Hut'.
Anyway, you catch my drift. It'll be something like JT agreeing to warn people in their ads of the dangers of smoking, so they write 'Smoke Clean'.
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coulrophobic
Another dimension of your life invaded by Lefty moralists.
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Lieutenant
Some people really don't know what is best. Let's make no effort to combat obesity and let's let obesity rates skyrocket and then have them go through all kinds of health and self-esteem problems to the point that they start commenting on things that don't even affect them and throw out taboo words like Lefty. Then let's have everyone's tax dollars go towards addressing said health problems. Let's not talk about governance in the best interests of the country and certainly don't utter the L word.
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coulrophobic
"A report issued by Baker Heart Institute in June found that obesity was the major threat to Australia’s future health, with an estimated nine million of the 21 million population obese or overweight."
Sounds like an epidemic of 'overbesity', as it is sometimes called in North America.
Lot of fat pikers any way you slice it.
Hey, maybe the 'L-word' is lard.
This stat completely nullifies the popular image Aussies have of themselves as ecologically progressive.There is no way you can put away that much grub without adversely affecting the environment.
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Lieutenant
I'm sorry what's your point here armchair expert? The article is about attempting to counter childhood obesity, so that the country does not continue to go down the same path as the US, who by your keyboard jockeying would be the biggest environment killers in the world.
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cow76
Did you read the article? A group of companies voluntarily agreed to abide by a certain code. Enough said.
But if the National Communist Party of Crazy Lefty Maoists implemented the same policy, I would support that too. Anything's better than being a nation of fatties.
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FromEurope
I think certain form of advertisements are the invasion in our life. I wonder why some people always need to divide the opinion into "lefties" or "righties". A good move doesn't have any political ideology. Note that McDonald's and KFC didn't agree with the idea.
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Lieutenant
That's what people and parties try to do when they go down swinging.
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neverknow2
Lots of negative people here! Maybe you've all been here too long. Stopping junk food ads for kids tv is a good idea. Give it a chance.
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smithinjapan
Despite my earlier comments, and my skepticism by the food industry to just capitulate and go in on it, I am for doing SOMETHING, and perhaps this is at least a start.
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