Calls have been made for Fiji’s media to be more cautious while marketing and advertising for children.
Dr Eliab Some, the Chief of Health and Sanitation unit at the UNICEF Pacific has reiterated the need for media and advertising agencies to ensure responsible and safe marketing for children.
While presenting at the Fiji Food Summit 2009 which is currently underway at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi Dr Some revealed that advertising directed at children annually is over $15 billion and in 1983 marketers scaled up efforts to reach children by $100 million spending on television advertising to kids and likewise in 2009 roughly 150 times.
He said advertising on unhealthy foods affect the eating habits and living styles of our children which causes them to become obese and become vulnerable to diseases like heart diseases and NCD’s from a young age.
Dr Some stressed the need to put bans of advertising of unhealthy foods and at the same time establish appropriate regulations to guide marketing of foods to children.
He has recommended the following to be undertaken to ensure that our children are not exposed to advertising to unhealthy foods:
-Offer promotions with healthy foods
-No unhealthy foods on merchandise for children
-Incorporate into games only healthy foods
-Sponsorship with healthy foods only
-No entertainment value into unhealthy foods
-Empower and support parents and teachers
-Establish and enforce standards for foods
Dr Some has also encouraged the manufacturers, importers, exporters and traders to develop new products, reformulate products, package and serve food in reasonable portion sizes and avoid encourage overeating.
“All food stakeholders to ensure healthy foods, meals and diet for all children on all occasions where foods are eaten,” Dr Some stressed.