The authors of the report wrote that “Australian kids’ dietary habits were suboptimal.” One priority strategy would be to limit children’s exposure unhealthy food advertising, branding and sponsors.
Previous restrictions failed
Fast food is not the only unhealthy option. Foods and beverages that are “high in sugar, fat and/or salt” and do not belong to a healthy eating plan.
The Australian Medical Association has called for advertising restrictions, particularly online, to be placed on all forms of media.
Free TV, which represents Seven, Nine, and Ten, and the Australian Association of National Advertisers, claim that the proposed changes would not have any effect on the obesity rate.
Quebec banned all ads that targeted children in 1980. In Chile and the UK, in 2006 restrictions were put in place to limit how much advertising for unhealthy food is shown to children.
The AANA reported that childhood obesity is on the rise in all of these jurisdictions.
The AANA stated that “We don’t understand why advertising bans abroad like those proposed in this report have not reduced obesity.”
Free TV has, on the other hand, claimed that research conducted more than 10 years ago was used in its feasibility study. The company also claimed that advertising was a small factor in the obesity rate.
Free TV stated that “a policy that seeks to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the childhood obesity rate must avoid a quick fix” that does not have any evidence.
There is little research that measures the relationship between marketing of food and obesity in children.
There is sound evidence that obesity has more to do than marketing with factors such as wealth, parental attributes, and education.
More television drama
Additional restrictions on advertising fast food The timing of the new media revolution could not be worse for traditional media. The cost of living crisis is forcing advertisers to cut back on their spending as consumers are tightening their belts.
Meta, Facebook’s owner, said that it would not be negotiating new agreements to fund the content of news organizations.
After an investigation last year, the industry expects a crackdown in online gambling advertisements.
Peter Dutton, the Opposition leader, has said that a crackdown in some form is supported by both parties. Proposed a ban of betting advertisements an hour before or after sports events.
He said, “Footy Time is Family Time” in the parliament of last year.
In 2022, the largest betting companies spent 300.5 millions dollars on advertising gambling. Of this amount, 180 million dollars went to television broadcasters.
Significant revenue
According to Guideline SMI which tracks how much money major advertising agencies spend on their clients, the total QSR ads spent in 2021-2022 was $327 millions and in 2023 it will be $382 millions.
Addition of other junk foods would generate more than 400 million dollars in advertising revenues.
AANA’s code of conduct for food and beverages is available. The body claimed that it was “one of strictest self regulation systems in the world”.
This code requires that advertisers do not advertise to children and sponsor any “occasional foods or beverages” products for children.
AANA’s chief executive Josh Faulks stated: “There needs to be clear evidence of the need and effectiveness for obesity prevention if there is any proposal that involves sweeping regulations that affect multiple industries.”
The Department of Health and Aged Care spokeswoman said that it had invested $5000 in the study. It will be reporting back to the government with recommendations by mid-this-year.