Michelle Obama’s ‘Let’s Move‘ campaign, launched yesterday by US President Obama, has gained support from America’s National Restaurant Association and the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. The campaign, aiming to tackle childhood obesity, will focus on “ensuring access to healthy, affordable food, increasing physical activity in schools and communities, providing healthier food in schools and empowering parents with information and tools to make good choices... ...Read more »

The use of toys and competitions to entice fast-food purchases has been criticised by the Obesity Coalition following a survey suggesting that consumers are keen on regulation of such practices. The new research claimed that 91% of consumers believe the government should regulate the use of toys and giveaways to market unhealthy food and drink to children and 55% believe this practice should be stopped completely. The results are from a survey undertaken by the Cancer Council Victoria into consumer... ...Read more »

Food, fitness or family… which one is most to blame for childhood obesity? New research from Mintel suggests today’s parents aren’t sure, and they’re feeling overwhelmed and worried as they try to prevent obesity in their own children. A survey of American parents discovered confusion over whether diet or exercise is most important for keeping kids at a healthy weight. Nearly three quarters of parents (72%) believe kids have too much access to junk food, while 69% feel that... ...Read more »

A report by the UK Department of Health has suggested junk food be placed above the eye-line of children as part of a wider strategy to tackle high obesity rates in the region. Industry body, the British Retail Consortium, has dismissed the idea as misguided, however, claiming retailers do not need the Government to tell them which shelves to put particular foods on. “The Government rightly recognises retailers’ achievements in developing and promoting healthier eating choices and that... ...Read more »

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said that current food advertising guidelines are beginning to have a positive impact and decided against scrapping a protein cap, which is currently used in determining what foods are advertised during children’s TV shows. The FSA Board agreed that the Nutrient Profiling model, which dictates what products can be promoted to children without incurring the wrath of advertising regulator Ofcom, was working effectively. In particular, the protein cap, which... ...Read more »

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown yesterday led off debate on the Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising Bill 2009 in the Senate, which proposes a ban on junk food and alcohol advertising during peak viewing times of children as well as restrictions on promoting unhealthy food at schools. Both major parties have indicated they are likely to vote against the proposed legislation, however. Senator Brown told the Senate that the lack of support from Labor represented a serious strategic mistake... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has welcomed the release of research by Professor Timothy Olds from the University of South Australia, which discovered that rates of childhood obesity have plateaued. Professor Olds’ research, as reported in The Australian today, found that childhood overweight rates had settled at about 23% over the past five to ten years, while childhood obesity rates were hovering around 6% over the same period. The research did, however, stress that obesity... ...Read more »

Major Australian based food and beverage manufacturers have, for the first time, publicly made available company action plans which spell out in black and white how and when they will market a range of their products. Australian Food and Grocery Council CEO Kate Carnell said that the commitment is in-line with the Council’s recently announced Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative. “Companies participating in this initiative have publicly committed to advertise to children... ...Read more »

A Senate inquiry has knocked back a Bill proposing a ban on junk food advertising to children. The Australian Food and Grocery Council has welcomed the release of a Senate Inquiry into the ‘Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising Broadcasting Amendment) Bill 2008′. AFGC CEO Kate Carnell said that the ‘fundamentally flawed’ bill was unnecessary as industry is already set to introduce its own Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative, on 1 January 2009. Ms... ...Read more »

Swiss-based Nestlé, the world’s largest food manufacturer, is to cut the sugar content of some of their most popular childrens’ foods. The announcement will officially be made later today with the release of their “Global Marketing to Children Principles” in Switzerland. Among the products to be reformulated is the renowned Milo brand, with the company reporting they will stamp out advertising to children of products which do not meet a set nutritional profile. All products... ...Read more »