We have recently seen two potentially significant announcements internationally regarding restrictions on marketing of unhealthy food and drink to children. The World Health Organisation (WHO) released a statement pulling together key actions from the new European Food and Nutrition Action 2015-2020 and the WHO Global Action Plan 2013–2020 for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, on the importance of properly addressing food and drink marketing to kids. This statement called for governments to take strong action on the setting and enforcement of food and drink marketing restriction policies.

Popular children’s magazines are contributing to unhealthy food marketing to children and adolescents, according to research from the University of Auckland. The study looked at the nature and extent of food marketing in popular children’s magazines and showed that unhealthy foods were marketed most frequently, while references to healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables were relatively rare.

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Healthy food policies to promote childhood health and reduce obesity are lacking, according to a report highlighting the policy priorities assessed by an expert panel of more than 50 New Zealand public health professionals, medical practitioners and NGO leaders.

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