World's children at risk from junk food - report from The Food Commission

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World's children at risk from junk food - report from The Food

Commission

 

Press release from The Food Commission

Embargo 00.01am, Tuesday 29th July 2003

 

 

Health groups warn:

World's children at risk from junk food marketing

 

The health of the children around the world is put at risk by the

marketing of junk food, says a

ref= " http://www.foodcomm.org.uk/Broadcasting_bad_health.pdf " >report[786KB PD]

from the Food Commission issued today.

 

The report, Broadcasting Bad Health: Why food marketing to children

needs to be controlled, shows that:

 

* The food-industry's global advertising budget is $40bn, a figure greater than

the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 70% of the world's nations.1

* For every $1 spent by the World Health Organization on preventing the diseases

caused by western diets, more than $500 is spent by the food industry promoting

these diets. 1

* In industrialised countries, food advertising accounts for around half of all

advertising broadcast during children's TV viewing times. Three-quarters of such

food adverts promote high-calorie, low-nutrient foods. 2

* For countries with transitional economies (such as in Eastern Europe),

typically 60% of Foreign Direct Investment in food production is for sugar,

confectionery and soft drinks. For every $100 spent invested in fruit and

vegetable production, over $1,000 is being invested in soft drinks and

confectionery. 3

* Over half the world's population lives in less-industrialised countries such

as Russia, China and India and they are now suffering a rising tide of

diet-related diseases as food companies export their products and their

advertising practices. 4

 

This report comes at a time when international investment bank UBS Warburg

(November 2002) and the international share analyst JP Morgan (April 2003) have

warned some of the top-spending food advertisers (including Hershey, McDonald's,

Tate & Lyle, Cadbury's, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Heinz and Nestlé) that they may be

contributing to an obesity-promoting environment. The companies were told that

their share prices may be at risk because their profits rely on selling fatty

and sugary foods, which are likely to be the subject of future regulation.

 

The report coincides with a major consultation by the World Health Organization

(WHO) to address a rising tide of diet-related disease around the world. The WHO

has identified as 'probable' or 'convincing' the scientific evidence that these

diseases - including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and several

common types of cancers - are linked to eating high-calorie, low-nutrient foods

and sugar-sweetened drinks, backed by a cultural environment in which processed

foods and fast-food outlets are heavily marketed. 5

 

" Junk foods and sugary drinks are supported by enormous advertising budgets that

dwarf any attempt to educate children about healthy diets, " said research

officer Kath Dalmeny, co-author of the Food Commission report. " Junk food

advertisers know that children are especially susceptible to marketing messages.

They target children as young as two years old with free toys, cartoon

characters, gimmicky packaging and interactive websites to ensure that children

pester their parents for the products. "

 

Companies such as KFC, Burger King, McDonald's, Kinder, Mars, Cadbury's,

Nestlé, Coca-Cola and Pepsi are criticised in the Food Commission report for

targeting children. The report calls for international controls on the marketing

of high-calorie, low-nutrient food to children.

 

Embargo 00.01am, Tuesday 29th July 2003

 

Further information: Contact: 020 7837 2250

 

The 30-page report Broadcasting Bad Health: Why food marketing to children needs

to be controlled has been prepared by the Food Commission on behalf of the

International Association of Consumer Food Organizations (IACFO). IACFO was

founded in 1997 as an alliance of non-governmental organizations that represent

consumer interests in the areas of food safety, nutrition and related matters.

The founding members are: The Food Commission (UK), the Center for Science in

the Public Interest (USA), the Centre for Science in the Public Interest

(Canada) and the Japan Offspring Fund.

 

The report Broadcasting Bad Health has been submitted to the World Health

Organization consultation on a global strategy for diet and health. The

consultation will lead to WHO proposals by spring 2004.

 

To download the full report in PDF format (800 KB) please visit The Food

Commission website at www.foodcomm.org.uk

Printed copies (not colour) can be obtained from the Food Commission at

94 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF, UK for £10.00 (postage and packing

is free, all payment in pounds sterling).

 

References

 

1. Lang,T & Millstone, E (eds) (2002) The Atlas of Food, Earthscan Books,

www.earthscan.co.uk . GDP analysis based on GDP figures for 2002 from the World

Bank Statistical Indicator (2003)

2. Survey data from: A Spoonful of Sugar: Television food advertising aimed at

children, an international comparative survey. Consumers International Programme

for Developed Economies, 1996

3. OECD (1998) Foreign Direct Investment in agri-food production, Eastern Europe

($4.04 billion), 1990-1997

4. WHO press release (April 2003) Launch of the WHO/FAO joint consultation

report on diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases.

5. WHO Technical report series 916 (2003) Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of

Chronic Diseases

_______________________________

 

Press Office

The Food Commission (UK) Ltd

94 White Lion Street

London N1 9PF

 

Tel: 020 7837 2250

Fax: 020 7837 1141

Email: press

Web: www.foodcomm.org.uk