AFGC disappointed by Parents Jury awards
The Fame and Shame Awards announcement by the Parents Jury are a “shameless attempt to discredit the industry and the recent success it has achieved, especially in marketing food and beverage products to children”, according to the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC).
“Parents aren’t easily fooled by this annual propaganda – instead they should be reminded about the important steps industry is taking to make healthier choices easier and to reduce advertising to children in all forms of media,” AFGC Deputy Chief Executive Dr Geoffrey Annison suggested.
Under AFGC’s Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative, 16 leading food and beverage manufacturers have committed not to advertise to children, unless they promoted healthy dietary choices and a healthy lifestyle consistent with scientific standards.
“While the awards mention healthy eating campaigns, they fail to recognise one of the most important initiatives being driven by the food and grocery manufacturing industry,” Dr Annison said. “Australian food manufacturers have made a strong commitment to providing healthy choices for people, including children – parents groups’ should be recognising this important progress and applauding industry’s efforts.”
The AFGC initiative, which has been running since January this year, ensures children will no longer see advertising for snacks, chips, soft drinks and chocolates on children’s television and other media, including posters in school canteens and company internet sites.
“We believe that industry has a role to advertise healthy food and active lifestyles to children and we welcome government working with us in monitoring this important initiative,” Dr Annison said.
Having worked in the food industry for 25 years, it is clear that many food manufacturers are not just paying lip service to responsible advertising, and continue to invest in innovation that provides for healthier options for the younger generations. It is also clear to me that as father of five, that we as parents also have a responsibility to get children out of the house and away from computers, and television. Parents have to admit that we have evolved to allow the electronic media to ‘babysit’ our children, and as they grow older and larger, their ability to develop physical fitness and immunity to sickness is vastly diminshed. Fame and Shame awards is finger pointingt,and I would ask whether or not parents are able to name and shame themselves into providing a healthier environment for children to develop as children rather than indoor hermits.