Canada urged to ban junk food ads targeting kids

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Bad news for Ronald McDonald and Tony the Tiger. The Heart and Stroke Foundation thinks they’re nothing but trouble. According to their 2017 report on the health of Canadians, kids between the ages of two and 11-years-old see about 25 million food and beverage ads every year– and almost all of them feature items that are unhealthy.

The organization says it’s time for this to stop and it wants the federal government to do something about it. The foundation claims that one of the most effective ways to protect kids and support parents is to implement strong restrictions on the commercial marketing of food and beverages to children and youth. They’re urging the Trudeau government to table and pass legislation without delay.

“Pushing for legislation to restrict food and beverage marketing to children and youth may seem like a bold measure,” says Diego Marchese, interim CEO and executive vice-president. “But given experts’ prediction that today’s children may be the first generation to have poorer health and shorter lifespans than their parents, we need to be bold.”

Since 1979, the number of Canadian children with obesity has tripled, with almost one-in-three children overweight or obese.

Millions of dollars are spent targeting children and youth through multiple forums including TV and online. New research reveals that over 90 per cent of food and beverage product ads viewed by kids and teens online are for unhealthy products.

The report examines how unlimited food and beverage marketing targeted at Canadian kids is negatively affecting preferences and choices, their family relationships and their health.

“The effect on families is often corrosive or disruptive,” says Chair of the Childhood Obesity Foundation Dr. Tom Warshawski. “Parents love their kids and want them to flourish but marketing persuades kids to want junk food and drinks. Part of the goal of that persuasion is setting up a conflict between kids and parents. Kids agitate for these products.”

TV is still a dominant medium for advertising to children, but as children spend more time online digital marketing is growing.

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