Regulating Unhealthy Food Advertising to Children under Neoliberalism: An Australian Perspective

2021 ◽  
pp. 71-92
Author(s):  
Nipa Saha
Keyword(s):  
Food Advertising ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Advertising To Children

scholarly journals Identifying ‘unhealthy’ food advertising on television: a case study applying the UK Nutrient Profile model

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 614-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Jenkin ◽  
Nick Wilson ◽  
Nicole Hermanson
Keyword(s):  
Fast Food ◽  
Food Advertising ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Nutrient Profile ◽  
Food Advertisements ◽  
Advertising To Children ◽  
The Uk

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the feasibility of the UK Nutrient Profile (NP) model for identifying ‘unhealthy’ food advertisements using a case study of New Zealand television advertisements.DesignFour weeks of weekday television from 15.30 hours to 18.30 hours was videotaped from a state-owned (free-to-air) television channel popular with children. Food advertisements were identified and their nutritional information collected in accordance with the requirements of the NP model. Nutrient information was obtained from a variety of sources including food labels, company websites and a national nutritional database.ResultsFrom the 60 h sample of weekday afternoon television, there were 1893 advertisements, of which 483 were for food products or retailers. After applying the NP model, 66 % of these were classified as advertising high-fat, high-salt and high-sugar (HFSS) foods; 28 % were classified as advertising non-HFSS foods; and the remaining 2 % were unclassifiable. More than half (53 %) of the HFSS food advertisements were for ‘mixed meal’ items promoted by major fast-food franchises. The advertising of non-HFSS food was sparse, covering a narrow range of food groups, with no advertisements for fresh fruit or vegetables.ConclusionsDespite the NP model having some design limitations in classifying real-world televised food advertisements, it was easily applied to this sample and could clearly identify HFSS products. Policy makers who do not wish to completely restrict food advertising to children outright should consider using this NP model for regulating food advertising.

scholarly journals Food and Beverage Advertising to Children and Adolescents on Television: A Baseline Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1999
Author(s):  
Adena Pinto ◽  
Elise Pauzé ◽  
Rachel Mutata ◽  
Marie-Hélène Roy-Gagnon ◽  
Monique Potvin Kent
Keyword(s):  
Fast Food ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Food Advertising ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Food Category ◽  
Television Station ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Adolescents And Adults ◽  
Advertising To Children

The progressive rise in Canadian child obesity has paralleled trends in unhealthy food consumption. Industry has contributed to these trends through aggressive food and beverage marketing in various media and child settings. This study aimed to assess the extent of food and beverage advertising on television in Canada and compare the frequency of food advertising broadcasted during programs targeted to preschoolers, children, adolescents and adults. Annual advertising from 2018 was drawn from publicly available television program logs. Food and beverage advertisement rates and frequencies were compared by, target age group, television station, month and food category, using linear regression modelling and chi-square tests, in SAS version 9.4. Rates of food and beverage advertising differed significantly between the four target age groups, and varied significantly by television station and time of the year, in 2018. The proportion of advertisements for food and beverage products was significantly greater during preschooler-, child-, and adult-programming [5432 (54%), 142,451 (74%) and 2,886,628 (48%), respectively; p < 0.0001] compared to adolescent-programming [27,268 (42%)]. The proportion of advertisements promoting fast food was significantly greater among adolescent-programming [33,475 (51%), p < 0.0001] compared to other age groups. Legislation restricting food and beverage advertising is needed in Canada as current self-regulatory practices are failing to protect young people from unhealthy food advertising and its potential negative health effects.

scholarly journals The targeting of preschoolers, children, adolescents and adults by the Canadian food and beverage industry on television: A cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adena Pinto ◽  
Elise Pauzé ◽  
Marie-Hélène Roy-Gagnon ◽  
Lise Dubois ◽  
Monique Potvin Kent
Keyword(s):  
Fast Food ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Food Advertising ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Breakfast Cereal ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Television Programming ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Adolescents And Adults ◽  
Advertising To Children

Unhealthy food advertising can negatively impact children’s food preferences and nutritional health. In Canada, only companies participating in the self-regulatory Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CAI) commit to limiting unhealthy food advertising to children. We analyzed food advertising from 182 Canadian television stations in 2018. A principal component analysis explored patterns of advertising by 497 food companies and their targeting of preschoolers, children, adolescents, and adults. Chi-square analyses tested differences in the volume of advertising between target age groups by heavily advertising food companies and by CAI-participating and non-participating companies. In 2018, Maple Leaf Foods, Boulangerie St-Méthode, Exceldor Foods, Goodfood Market and Sobeys advertised most frequently during preschooler-programming. General Mills, Kellogg’s, the Topps Company, Parmalat and Post Foods advertised most frequently during child-programming, while Burger King, McDonald’s, General Mills, Kellogg’s and Wendy’s advertised most frequently during adolescent-programming. CAI-participating companies were responsible for over half of the food advertising broadcast during programs targeted to children (55%), while they accounted for less than half of the food advertising aired during programs targeting preschoolers (24%), adolescents (41%) and adults (42%). Statutory food advertising restrictions are needed to limit food companies’ targeting of young people on television in Canada. Novelty: •Advertising from fast food restaurant chains dominated television programming targeted to adolescents in 2018. •Advertising from breakfast cereal, candy, and snack manufacturers dominated television programming targeted at children in 2018. •Over 100 Canadian and transnational companies contravened broadcast restrictions on advertising to preschoolers in 2018.

scholarly journals Advertising to children initiatives have not reduced unhealthy food advertising on Australian television

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 787-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy L Watson ◽  
Vivien Lau ◽  
Lyndal Wellard ◽  
Clare Hughes ◽  
Kathryn Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Food Advertising ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Advertising To Children

scholarly journals The extent and nature of television food advertising to children and adolescents in the Russian Federation

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 1868-1876
Author(s):  
AV Kontsevaya ◽  
AE Imaeva ◽  
YA Balanova ◽  
AV Kapustina ◽  
J Breda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Television Advertising ◽  
World Health ◽  
Food Advertising ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Food Advertisements ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Food And Drink ◽  
Advertising To Children

AbstractObjective:To assess the frequency, healthfulness and promotional techniques of television food advertising to children and adolescents in the Russian Federation.Design:A cross-sectional study was conducted to monitor food and beverage television advertising. For the five most popular TV channels among children and adolescents, TV broadcasts were recorded for two weekdays and two weekends (320 h) during March–May 2017. Recordings were screened for advertisements. Food advertisements were categorised by food categories and as either ‘permitted’ or ‘not permitted’ for advertising to children in accordance with World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe Nutrient Profile Model (NPM), and promotional techniques in advertisements were recorded.Results:Overall, 11 678 advertisements were coded. Across all channels, food and drink (19·2 %) were the most frequently advertised product type. The most common food categories advertised were beverages (except juices, milk drinks and energy drinks) (24·1 %); yoghurts and other dairy foods (15 %); and chocolate and confectionery (12·3 %). A majority (64·2 %) of food and drink products advertised should not be permitted for advertising to children according to the NPM. The most frequently used persuasive appeals in the food advertisements were low price (15·4 %), product novelty (11·8 %) and enjoyment (10·0 %).Conclusions:Children and adolescents in the Russian Federation are likely exposed to a substantial number of unhealthy food advertisements. There is a need to consider policies to restrict children’s exposure to unhealthy food advertising on television in the Russian Federation.

scholarly journals Unhealthy food advertising directed to children on New Zealand television: extent, nature, impact and policy implications

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (17) ◽  
pp. 3029-3040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Vandevijvere ◽  
Alanna Soupen ◽  
Boyd Swinburn
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Food Advertising ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Nutrient Profiling ◽  
Average Impact ◽  
Food Advertisements ◽  
Advertising To Children ◽  
Air Channels

AbstractObjectiveTo comprehensively assess the extent, nature and impact of unhealthy food advertising targeted to children on New Zealand television.DesignFour weekdays and four weekend days were randomly selected over the period June–August 2015. Programming was recorded from 06.00 to 00.00 hours (midnight), for a total of 432 h. Audience ratings were used to identify children’s peak viewing times.SettingNew Zealand.SubjectsThe three major free-to-air channels.ResultsThe majority of foods advertised (n 1807) were unhealthy; 68·5 % of food advertisements included at least one food not permitted to be marketed to children according to the WHO nutrient profiling model. The mean hourly rate of unhealthy food advertising was 9·1 (sd 5·2). One-third of unhealthy food advertisements included a promotional character and one-third a premium offer. About 88 % of unhealthy food advertisements were shown during children’s peak viewing times. If unhealthy food advertisements were to be restricted during times when at least 25 % of children are watching television, this would reduce the average unhealthy food advertising impact by 24 % during weekdays and 50 % during weekend days, and if the WHO instead of the current nutrient profiling model were used to restrict unhealthy food advertising to children, the average impact would be reduced by 24 % during weekdays and 29 % during weekend days.ConclusionsCurrent self-regulation is ineffective in protecting children from exposure to unhealthy food advertising on television. The WHO nutrient profiling model needs to be used to restrict unhealthy food advertising, especially during children’s peak viewing times.

scholarly journals Exposure of Children to Unhealthy Food and Beverage Advertisements in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 3856
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Yamoah ◽  
Jeroen De Man ◽  
Sunday O. Onagbiye ◽  
Zandile J. Mchiza
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Food Advertising ◽  
Regulation System ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
The South ◽  
Food And Beverages ◽  
Persuasive Strategies ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Marketing To Children

Television (TV) is a powerful medium for marketing food and beverages. Food and beverage marketers tend to use this medium to target children with the hope that children will in turn influence their families’ food choices. No study has assessed the compliance of TV marketers with the South African Marketing to Children pledge since the enactment of the 2014 food advertising recommendations by the South African Department of Health and the Advertising Standards Authority. This study investigated the extent and nature of advertising of unhealthy versus healthy food and beverages to children in South African TV broadcasting channels. The date, time, type, frequency and target audience of food advertisements (ads) on four free-to-air South African TV channels were recorded and captured using a structured assessment guide. The presence of persuasive marketing techniques was also assessed. Unhealthy food and beverage advertising was recorded at a significantly higher rate compared with healthy food and beverages during the time frame when children were likely to be watching TV. Brand benefit claims, health claims and power strategies (e.g., advertising using cartoon characters and celebrated individuals) were used as persuasive strategies. These persuasive strategies were used more in unhealthy versus healthy food ads. The findings are in breach of the South African Marketing to Children pledge and suggest a failure of the industry self-regulation system. We recommend the introduction of monitored and enforced statutory regulations to ensure healthy TV food advertising space.

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