Cancer Council Australia and public health organisations are calling on the Australian Government to regulate food marketing to children.
The call follows a Preventive Health Roundtable convened by Dr Sophie Scamps MP. After the meeting, the organisations released a joint statement calling for legislation to reduce children’s exposure to food marketing. The proposed measures cover online platforms, social media, gaming, sports sponsorships, retail settings and other environments.
One in four Australian children and adolescents aged 2–17 lives with overweight or obesity, according to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The condition is linked to an increased risk of 13 types of cancer. These include postmenopausal breast, colorectal, liver, kidney, endometrial, ovarian, stomach, thyroid, oesophageal, gallbladder, pancreatic, multiple myeloma and advanced prostate cancer.
Data from 2022 show that 96 per cent of Australian adults did not meet the recommended intake of fruit and vegetables. Average free sugar consumption is 67 grams per day, 1.3 times the recommended level.
Cancer Council estimates that overweight leads to more than 5200 cancer cases each year. It is also one of the main risk factors for illness and death in Australia.
Cancer Council Australia CEO Jacinta Reddan said the government should act to reduce children’s exposure to food and drink marketing. She said the marketing makes it more difficult for parents to encourage healthy habits.
“The reality is children today are more likely to be living with obesity than previous generations,” Reddan said. “You only need to watch some adverts about the Fifa World Cup to see how junk food companies are targeting children through popular sporting events.”
Reddan said children should grow up in an environment that supports healthy choices. Advertising should not promote products that put their long-term health at risk.
Dr Sophie Scamps also released an open letter signed by public health organisations calling for government action on unhealthy food marketing.
- Further reading: Food industry faces calls for action on ‘junk food’ marketing.
