Latest news - May 2009

Australia: Australian Medical Association renews its calls for HFSS TV food advertising ban as a new civil society campaign against advertising to children is launched

On 30 April, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) renewed their call for an advertising ban of HFSS food during children's viewing hours. The move comes as a coalition of Australian civil society groupslaunches the 'Burger Corp campaign', to increase pressure on the government to regulate advertising to children.  

New Zealand: Charity releases report calling for major changes in advertising codes

On 22 May, New Zealand charity 'Fight the Obesity Epidemic (FOE)' released a report analysing the complaints made to the New Zealand Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) with regard to food advertising to children. The report, which was released in the context of the current review of the Codes for Advertising to Children and Advertising of Food finds that "there is a gaping chasm in views about what is socially responsible between the ASA and those concerned about children's health."

UK: New study finds few advertisements prohibited by Ofcom rules

On 28 May, a joint British and Canadian study was published in the Archives of Diseases in Childhood Journal, which found that "there was little evidence that foods advertisements 'of particular appeal to' children were any less healthy than those that were not." This indicates that most food advertised on TV has a similar nutritional content and consequently the Ofcom rules are likely to prohibit only few advertisements.

Mexico: Proposal to restrict advertising to children introduced in Mexican Senate

On 13 May, the deputy of the Party of Revolución Democrática (PRD), Othón Cuevas, introduced a draft bill to the Mexican Senate that would amend the Mexican Federal Radio and Television Act and as a consequence restrict television advertising to children.