Online Program

Oral

The food and beverage industry spends nearly $2 billion annually marketing to children. A body of compelling evidence shows that the marketing of high-calorie and nutrition-poor foods to children and adolescents increases their risk of unhealthy weight gain and contributes to poor diet and related health outcomes. As a result, the widespread marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children and youth is a major public health concern. Industry self-regulation, over the last decade, has resulted in positive progress forward, however unhealthy food marketing practices persist and remain prevalent. Many self-regulatory policies do not cover all the marketing strategies used to promote products to children and some companies do not have marketing policies at all. The Recommendations for Responsible Food Marketing to Children were developed by a national panel of experts convened by Healthy Eating Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The recommendations provide a comprehensive set of model definitions, which could be used to strengthen company policies around food marketing practices directed to children. The recommendations address the full range of media, venues, and marketing techniques that companies use to reach children. This guidance will help support efforts of the food and beverage industry, media companies, policymakers, advocates, and researchers as they work to monitor and strengthen policies around food marketing to children.

Session Objectives: Identify the rationale and process for forming an expert panel and their resulting Recommendations for Responsible Food Marketing to Children. Describe differences between the Recommendations and existing industry practices and how the Recommendations will move the field forward in reducing unhealthy food marketing to children. Explain current and ongoing work with industry to find common ground and broaden coverage of food marketing to kids through self-regulation.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)