Countries around the world are failing to protect children from the effects of junk food marketing
World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has released a new report, Building Momentum: Lessons on implementing robust restrictions of food and non-alcoholic beverage marketing to children, that highlights how countries around the world are failing to protect children from the effects of junk food marketing. This undermines every child’s right to health and adequate nutrition.
Global childhood obesity rates are on the rise, with more than 350 million children and adolescents aged 0–19 overweight or obese. Overweight or obese children are more likely to be overweight or obese adults, putting them at an increased risk of at least 12 different cancers, as well as other diseases.
The report takes lessons learned from around the world, highlighting that restricting the marketing of junk food to children reduces their exposure to these products and therefore reduces how much of them they eat. This can help reduce childhood obesity rates and it is why marketing restrictions are internationally recognised as urgently needed.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has cited the need for food marketing restrictions in country reports including Canada, South Africa, Switzerland, Brazil, Chile, Poland and the United Arab Emirates.