The AMA is urging the Australian Government to put the health of children ahead of the profits of harmful industries by enacting tougher laws on unhealthy food and drink advertising.
AMA President Professor Steve Robson said an online marketing ban would help establish healthy food consumption habits from a young age.
“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,” he said.
In a submission to the 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.
“Eating habits start young when kids are highly susceptible to marketing ploys,” Professor Robson said.
“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 junk food marketing on media platforms and outlets between 5:30 a.m. and 11 p.m.
The AMA is also urging the government to implement tight restrictions on unhealthy food sponsorship of sports, arts and cultural events.
“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,” Professor Robson said.
The submission strongly opposes retaining the status quo where industry regulates itself.
“Allowing the processed food and advertising industries to set their own rules does not effectively protect children from exposure to unhealthy food marketing,” Professor Robson said.
“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 government, including the affordability of healthy foods.
“It is critically important that the Australian Government also introduces policies to increase the affordability and accessibility of healthy foods across Australia,” Professor Robson said.
