Junk food companies' pledges on marketing to children are riddled with holes

Responding to the publication today of the International Association for the Study of Obesity’s (IASO) Standards for Marketing to Children (Stanmark) report, Children’s Food Campaign Director Charlie Powell said:

“The Stanmark report provides yet more evidence that voluntary rules to curb junk food marketing to children are weak and ineffective.  

No-one should be surprised by the inconsistencies in different food companies’ voluntary approaches or by the routine lack of adherence to pledges highlighted by the report.  

We welcome the principles proposed in the report, which if implemented on a statutory basis, would protect children from junk food marketing at the same time as providing a level playing field for food companies.”



ENDS

For further information and interviews, please contact Christine Haigh on 0203 5596 777 or 07870 577934 or Christine@sustainweb.org.

 

Notes to editors

1) The Children's Food Campaign wants to improve children's health and well-being through better food - and food teaching - in schools, and protecting children from junk food marketing. We are supported by over 150 national organisations. The Children's Food Campaign is coordinated by Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming and funded by the British Heart Foundation. For more information, see www.childrensfood.org.uk .

2) The report, ‘A junk-free childhood’, will be available from IASO (http://www.iaso.org) from 00.01 on 30 June 2011.