Australian Medical Association calls for digital black-out on junk food ads

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is calling on the Australian Government to put the health of children ahead of the profits of harmful industries by urging for tougher laws on unhealthy food and drink advertising.

Advising that an online marketing ban would help establish healthy food consumption habits from a young age, AMA President Professor, Steve Robson stated "limiting junk food advertisements and marketing is about nurturing health in our children, providing them with the opportunity to make healthy choices well into adulthood.”

In a submission to the Federal Department of Health and Aged Care, the AMA has highlighted the preventive health benefits of a digital black-out on junk food adverts along with heavy restrictions on television advertising, sponsorship, and new promotion and placement rules in the retail sector.

Professor Robson noted “eating habits start young, when kids are highly susceptible to marketing ploys.

“Junk food marketing at the sports field, in the shops, on tv or online gives the wrong message by making unhealthy food feel completely normal.”

The AMA submission calls for restrictions on all junk food marketing across media platforms and outlets between 5.30am and 11pm.

Also urging the Federal Government to implement tight restrictions on unhealthy food sponsorship of sports, arts and cultural events, Professor Robson went on to say “children should be able to play sport, watch their favourite sports stars play and go to art and cultural events without being bombarded with marketing for unhealthy food.”

With the submission strongly opposing retaining the status quo where industry regulates itself, Professor Robson added “allowing the processed food and advertising industries to set their own rules does not effectively protect children from exposure to unhealthy food marketing.

“We need to restrict placement and promotion of unhealthy food within retail environments, and we want a policy to extend beyond traditional media and include parts of our daily lives where children are influenced.”

The submission also highlights some of the challenges for the Federal Government including the affordability of healthy foods.