The senior policy adviser of the coalition, Jane Martin states, "Nine out of 10 people thought that junk food marketing to children should be restricted on television, but there's high support in general for controls on some of the techniques used to target children, such as toys and competitions."
Food companies, selling junk and fast food, do not regulate their advertisements that actually de-motivate young people from eating healthily. When attractive visuals and texts bombard them in schools and sporting events, through movies, magazines, direct emails and text messages, it destroys healthy eating habits. Consequently, one-quarter of Australian children are overweight or obese.
Boyd Swinburn, the Centre for Obesity Prevention spokesman, regrets that in the middle of an 'obesity epidemic' children are being allowed to be tempted by junk food drives and sales. The Obesity Policy Coalition report has been sent to Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon whose office has stated that $325 million has been invested for the Healthy Children initiative to increase physical activity and improve nutrition in schools and pre-schools.
Although the Australian Food and Grocery Council has rejected the claims, pointing to its agreement with the industry code - the Responsible Children's Marketing Initiative, the curb that the coalition recommends is very definitely a necessity in Australia.
Source: Medindia