Heart and Stroke Foundation calling for ban on marketing unhealthy food to kids

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OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Parents out grocery shopping know how tough it is to constantly say ‘no’ to the kids, crying for something unhealthy they saw on TV.

It’s become even harder these days with all the targeted ads on websites.

The Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation has come out with a new report calling for a ban on marketing food and beverages to children and youth.

Kate Chidester with the organization says over 90 per cent of what’s being marketed to kids and teens is unhealthy.

“We found that, collectively, kids ages two to 11 in Canada see 25 million food and beverage ads a year on their top 10 favourite websites. So they’re being bombarded throughout the day and we want to see this stopped.”

Chidester says it shows an urgent need for advertising restrictions to protect kids.

“We looked at how industry is marketing unhealthy food and beverages directly to our children and youth. They have a strong nag factor in families and kids are exposed to a great deal of commercial efforts to get them to want to eat and have their parent purchase foods that are unhealthy.”

She says they’re lobbying for the support of new legislation cracking down on the food industry targeting kids.

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