Ajunk‐freechildhood: Responsiblestandardsformarketing foodsandbeveragestochildren AbriefingpaperfromTheStanMarkProjectofthe InternationalAssociationfortheStudyofObesity PreparedbyTimLobstein,TriinParnandAngeAikenhead StanMark Standards for Marketing to children Themarketingoffoodsandnon‐alcoholicbeverageswithahighcontentoffat, sugarorsaltreacheschildrenthroughouttheworld.Effortsmustbemadeto ensurethatchildreneverywhereareprotectedagainsttheimpactofsuch marketingandgiventheopportunitytogrowanddevelopinanenablingfood environment—onethatfostersandencourageshealthydietarychoicesand promotesthemaintenanceofhealthyweight. DrAlaAlwan,AssistantDirectorGeneral, WorldHealthOrganization StanMark Standards for marketing to children TheStanMarkprojectbringstogetherresearchersandpolicy‐makerstodevelopasetofstandards formarketingfoodsandbeveragesconsistentwiththeresolutionoftheWorldHealthAssembly. Objectives ConveneaseriesofmeetingsinEuropeandtheUSAtobringtogetherkeymembersofthescientific researchcommunityandpolicy‐makingcommunitytoconsiderhowmarketingfoodandbeverages mayaffectchildren’shealth. Identifycurrent‘bestpractice’approachestothecontrolofmarketing,includingmeasuresnot specificallyaddressingfood andbeveragemarketing,ornotspecificallydirectedtotheprotectionof children. Exploretheuseofstandardsandmarketingcodestoinfluencecommercialactivity,including standardsfromotherindustrialsectors. Proposeasetofstandardstoformthebasisforacross‐bordercodeofmarketingoffoodsand beverages. Developweb‐basedresourcesforpolicydevelopmentconcerningfoodandbeveragemarketingto childrenandrelatedmaterialstosupportpolicydevelopment. Projectpartners InternationalAssociationfortheStudyofObesity,London,UK RuddCentreforFoodPolicyandObesity,YaleUniversity,NewHaven,Connectic ut,USA PublicHealthNutrition,MetropolitanUniversityCollege,Copenhagen,Denmark ©IASOJune2011 www.iaso.org ThisreporthasbeenproducedwiththeassistanceoftheEuropeanUnionwithinthe frameworkofthePilotProjectonTransatlanticMethodsforHandlingGlobalChallenges. ThecontentsofthisreportarethesoleresponsibilityofIASOandcaninnowaybetaken toreflecttheviewsoftheEuropean Union. Contents Summary1 1.Background3 Policydevelopment3 Nextsteps4 2.Company‐ledself‐regulation6 Problemsofdefinitions6 Whatageisachild?6 Whichproductscanbepromoted?7 Whichmedia?8 Furthergapsincompany‐ledself‐regulation9 Company‐ownedwebsites9 Socialnetworkingsites10 Generalisedbranding11 Schoolsandotherchildren’ssettings12 Characterlicensingandbrandequitycharacters 13 Productdesignandpackaging15 Shopdisplays15 Child‐to‐childmarketing15 Newtechnology16 3.Proposedstandards18 Standard1:Specifyingthe foodsandbeverages 18 Standard2:Agegroups18 Standard3:Mediausedformarketingmessages 19 Standard4:Marketingmethods19 Standard5:Useofbrands20 Standard6:Settingsandlocations20 Standard7:Accountability21 Appendix WorldHealthOrganizationSetofRecommendationsonthe MarketingofFoodsandNon‐alcoholicBeveragestoChildren 22 1 Summary Duringthelastdecadeconsumergroups,parentsandteachers’bodies,andpublichealth advocacyorganisationshavecalledforgreatercontrolonthemarketingoffoodsand beveragestochildren.Anumberofauthoritativereportshavehighlightedtheneedto restrictsuchmarketingtoensurethatchildrenarenotundulyinfluencedtoconsumefoods highinfats,sugarandsalt.A2009reviewofregulations(thePolMarkstudy 1 )suggestedthat successfulregulationrequiredgovernmentleadershipwithspecifiedtimelinesandclear, measurableobjectives.In2010theWorldHealthAssemblypassedaResolutionwhichurged memberstatestointroducecontrolsonthemarketingoffoodsandbeveragestochildren, andissuedasetofRecommendationsidentifyingtheapproachesthatcouldbetaken 2 . Theseincreasingcallsforactionhaveledtoaseriesofpolicyresponses,including government‐ledvoluntaryagreementswithindustryandstatutoryregulation.Ofparticular importanceistheresponseofleadingfoodandbeveragecompanies,whohaveproposed theproposedaseriesofcompany‐ledpledgestoreducetheirmarketingactivitiesdirected atchildren.Thesepledgescovertypesofmarketingpracticewhichmaylieoutsidethe traditionalindustry‐widecodesofconductandnationalregulationsonadvertising. However,comparisonofdifferentcompanypledgesandstatementsshowsadegreeof inconsistency,asshowninthisreport,whichmakesevaluationoftheimpactofthepledges hardtoassess.Furthermorethereappeartobelapsesintheadherencetothesepledges withinEurope,andevidencethattheyarenotappliedinotherregions(givingriseto‘off‐ shore’marketingtoEuropeanchildrenviatheinternet)socallingintoquestionthe companies’strengthofcommitment. Inordertoassistgovernmentsandguideindustry,theStanMarkprojectundertookaseries ofpolicyandresearchmeetingsinvolvingexpertsandofficialsfromcountriesinEuropeand NorthAmerica,fundedunderthePilotProjectsprogrammeoftheEuropeanUnion’s ExternalAffairsService 3 . Fromthesemeetingsaseriesofproposalsweregeneratedandarepresentedhereforuse byWHOmemberstategovernments.Forcross‐bordermarketingitisintendedthatthe foodandadvertisingindustrieswillrecognisetheadvantagesofacommon,universalsetof standardsapplicabletoallcompaniesandwhich canprotectchildrenacrosstheglobe. ThestandardsproposedarebasedontheWHOrecommendations,whichidentifyboth ‘exposure’and‘power’asindependentfactorsdeterminingtheeffectivenessofmarketing messages.TheStanMarkprojectproposesthefollowing: • Arisk‐basedapproach,allowingthepromotionoffruit,vegetablesetctochildren, but prohibitingthemarketingoffoodsandbeverageshighinsaturatedfat,transfat,sugars andsalt. 1 Seehttp://www.iaso.org/policy/euprojects/polmarkproject/ 2 Seehttp://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/marketing‐food‐to‐children/en/index.html 3 Seehttp://www.eeas.europa.eu/us/grants/pilot_projects/index_en.htm 2 • Riskreduction:byreducingtheexposureandpoweroffoodmarketingmessagesseen bychildren. • Childrenarepersonswhohavenotyetreachedanagewhentheyarelegallyconsidered tobecompetenttoprotecttheirownwelfare. • Foodstobepromotedarethoseproductswhichconformtonationalandinternational dietaryguidelinessupportingWHO’sGlobalStrategytopreventobesityandchronic disease. • Marketingmediaarethosewhichcarrymarketingmessages,including:packaging, productformulationandpresentation,andsportsevents. • Marketingtechniquesincludealltechniqueswithspecialappealtochildrenand adolescents. • Non‐specificbrandpromotionshouldbeassumedtobeprohibitedunlessthepromotion isspecificallyandonlyforpermittedproducts. • Marketinglocationsincluderetailandcateringplacesandsettingswherechildrenmay beundulyexposed–i.e.wherechildrengather. • Accountablebodiesarethosewitha‘dutyofcare’inthemarketingprocess,including mediadistributors,webhostsandinternetserviceproviders. 3 1Background Forachild,excessbodyweightisariskfactorforlateradultdisease,includingdiabetes, heartdisease,severalmajorcancersandotherchronicdiseases.Childhoodoverweightis associatedwithimpairedhealthduringchildhooditself,includingpsycho‐socialdistress, increasedriskofhighbloodpressure,insulinresistanceandfattyliverdiseasewhichmay continueuntreatedformanyyears.Onceestablished,obesityinchildren(asinadults)is hardtoreverse.Primarypreventionisessential. Marketingofpotentiallyunhealthyfoodproductsisrecognisedasapossiblefactorinchild obesityandwasidentifiedasariskinanexpertreportfortheWorldHealthOrganizationin 2002 4 .SystematicreviewsconductedintheUKin2003, 5 intheUSAin2005 6 andforthe EuropeanParliament, 7 allconcludedthat,despitesubstantialgapsintheevidence, advertisinghadasufficienteffectonchildobesitytomeritaction. Policydevelopment TheissueoffoodmarketingtochildrenisnowhighonthepolicyagendainEurope.This followsthecallforthefoodindustrytoregulateitself,issuedin2005bythenHealth CommissionerMarkosKyprianou,andthepan‐EuropeanMinisterialCharteronObesity agreedinIstanbul,September2006, 8 whichcalledfor“theregulationstosubstantially reducetheextentandimpactofcommercialpromotionofenergy‐densefoodsand beverages,particularlytochildren,withthedevelopmentofinternationalapproaches,such asacodeonmarketingtochildreninthisarea”. TheEuropeanCommission’s2007WhitePaperonobesitynotedtheneedforactioninthis areaand,whilesupportingvoluntaryinitiatives,promisedareviewin2010todetermine whetherotherapproachesarerequired. 9 TheCommission’shealthandconsumer directorate,DGSanco,hashostedaseriesofmeetingsbetweencivilsocietyandindustry representativesintheEuropeanPlatformonDiet,PhysicalActivityandHealthdiscussing industryself‐regulation.In2007theWorldHealthAssemblycalledforrecommendationson marketingtochildren,includingcross‐border issues 10 whichwerepresentedtotheWorld HealthAssemblyin2010.In2009,theWHOEuropeanRegionalNetworkontheProtection ofChildrenfromMarketingPressureproposedasetofstandardsforadvertisingfoodto children. 11 4 WHO(2002)Diet,NutritionandthePreventionofChronicDiseases.TechnicalReportSeries916.See http://whqlibdoc.who.int/trs/WHO_TRS_916.pdf 5 DoesFoodPromotionInfluenceChildren?ASystematicReviewoftheEvidenceFoodStandardsAgency,London2003.See http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2003/sep/promote 6 FoodMarketingtoChildrenandYouth:ThreatorOpportunity?Institute ofMedicine,WashingtonDC2005. 7 AdvertisingandmarketingpracticesonchildobesityDGInternalPolicies,EuropeanParliament,Brussels,2008. IP/A/ENVI/NT/2007‐20&21.(PE400.989) 8 EuropeanCharteroncounteractingobesity,paragraph2.4.6,EUR/06/5062700/8,61995.WorldHealthOrganisation, RegionalOfficeforEurope,2006.Seehttp://www.euro.who.int/Document/E89567.pdf. 9 AStrategyforEuropeonNutrition,OverweightandObesityrelatedhealthissues.COM(2007)279Page6.Brussels. 10 ResolutionWHA60.23.WorldHealthAssemblyGeneva,2007.See http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA60/A60_R23‐en.pdf 11 CodeonMarketingofFoodandNon‐AlcoholicBeveragestoChildren,EuropeanNetworkonreducing marketingpressureonchildren,2009.Seehttp://www.helsedirektoratet.no/marketing 4 AEuropeanParliamentaryreportintotheissuerecommendedthat,whiletheevidence remainedcontestable,actionshouldbetakentoprotectchildrenonaprecautionarybasis, 12 andtheEuropeanParliamentin2008resolvedthatstrongermeasuresshouldbeconsidered ifa2010‐11reviewoftheself‐regulatoryapproachshowedinadequateprogress 13 . IntheUSAthereisrisinginterestovertheroleofindustryinpromotingpoordietsto children,withareviewoftheissuebytheInstituteofMedicinein2004‐5 14 .Thisfollowed actionatlocalleveltoreducethepromotionofpoordietsinschools,andareportbytheUS GeneralAccountingOfficeonthelargenumberofmethodsusedbyfoodandbeverage marketerstoaccesschildrenatschool. 15 Furthermovestorestrictmarketingfollowedameetingofresearchersandpolicyadvisors heldinlateJuly2009intheWhiteHousebyMichelleObama,focussingonchildobesityand opportunitiesforinterventions.TheUSFederalTradeCommissionpublishedawidely‐cited reportonmarketingfoodtochildrenin2008 16 ,andhasheldaseriesofconsultationson proposedcriteriaforrestringmarketing,developedbythefederalgovernment’s InteragencyWorkingGroup(theFTC,theUSDA,theCDCandtheFDA). 17 InMay2010the GroceryManufacturersofAmericapledgedtocut1.5trillioncaloriesfromtheUSdietby 2015. 18 OfspecificconcernintheUSA,asitisinEurope,isthequestionofself‐regulationby theindustryversusstatutoryregulation,withindustrypromisesbeingwatchedbytheWhite Houseandmonitoredbyindependentagencies 19 . Nextsteps Recentresearchhasstrengthenedtheevidencebaseforaction,butcrucialworkonthe impactonparticularpopulationsubgroups,suchaschildreninlowerincomefamilies, childreninspecificculturalandethnicgroups,ornewimmigrantfamilies,needstobe extended.Atthesametimethetechnologyforadvertisinghaschanged,withnewformsof media(i.e.internet,cellphones)becomingavailabletolargernumbersofchildrenand offeringlow‐cost,effectivemeansofreachingchildrendirectlyformarketingpurposes. Furthermore,cross‐bordermarketing–e.g.usinginternet,satellite,andproductplacement inimportedprogrammes–isnotamenabletocontrolbyasinglejurisdiction. 12 TheEffectofAdvertisingandMarketingPracticesonChildObesity.EconomicandScientificPolicy,DGInternalPolicies, EuropeanParliament,Brussels,2008.IP/A/ENVI/ST/2007‐16.(PE393.525) 13 Item40,EuropeanParliamentresolutionof25September2008ontheWhitePaperonnutrition,overweight andobesity‐relatedhealthissues.P6_TA(2008)0461. 14 FoodMarketingtoChildrenandYouth:ThreatorOpportunity?InstituteofMedicine,WashingtonDC2005. 15 CommercialActivitiesinSchools.USGeneralAccountingOfficeGAO/HEHS‐00‐156,2001(alsoGAO‐04‐810, 2004). 16 MarketingFoodToChildrenandAdolescents:AReviewofIndustryExpenditures,Activities,andSelf‐ Regulation:AFederalTradeCommissionReportToCongress.FederalTradeCommission,WashingtonDC,July 2008.Seehttp://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/07/foodmkting.shtm 17 FederalTradesCommission(2011)InteragencyWorkingGroupSeeksInputonProposedVoluntaryPrinciples forMarketingFoodtoChildren.Seehttp://www.ftc.gov/opa/2011/04/foodmarket.shtm 18 Seehttp://www.gmaonline.org/news‐events/newsroom/gma‐statement‐regarding‐hwcf‐pledge‐to‐reduce‐ 15‐trillion‐calories‐by‐2015/ 19 BlackJ,(18/05/2010)MichelleObamaapplaudsfoodindustrygroup'spledgetotrimcalories.Washington Post.Seehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp‐dyn/content/article/2010/05/17/AR2010051703895.html 5 bordermarketing,usinginternet,satellite,andproductplacementinimportedprogrammes, isnotamenabletocontrolbyasinglejurisdiction. Inresponsetopublicconcern,civilsocietyorganisationshaveproposedstandardswhich wouldapplytocommercialoperatorsinallcountriesandtherebyprotectchildrenwhether ornotthelocalregulatoryenvironmentwasabletodoso.Suchstandardswouldhave considerablemoralauthorityandwouldactasa‘soft’regulatoryprocessakintotheforms ofgovernanceknowninEuropeastheOpenMethodofCoordination,i.e.theyrelyon identificationofgoodandbadpracticesandpublicitytoencouragehighstandards. InMay2010the63 rd WorldHealthAssemblyof193governmentsendorsedasetof recommendationsonmarketingoffoodsandnon‐alcoholicbeveragestochildrenandcalled forinternationalactiontoreducetheimpactonchildrenofthemarketingoffoodsor beverageshighinsaturatedortransfats,freesugarsorsalt(HSTFSS). 20 The recommendationsformedpartoftheWorldHealthOrganization’sglobalstrategyforthe preventionandcontrolofnon‐communicablediseases.TheAssemblyurgedmember nationstotakeactiontoreduceboththeexposureofchildrento,andthepowerof, marketingforsuchfoods. However,nationalgovernmentsmaynotbeabletocontrolallthemarketingpracticesthat influenceachild’sdiet.MarketingopportunitiesarisewhenTVchannelsarereceivedfrom sourcesoutsidenationalboundaries,whenInternetaccessislargelyunmediated,when sponsoredsportingeventsaretransmittedglobally,andwhenfilmsandvideogamesare tradedacrossnationalborders.Itfollowsthatasetofuniversalstandardscanhelpto ensurethatthemarketingofHSTFSSproductscanfullycomplywiththeWorldHealth Assembly’srecommendations. Universalmarketingstandardshavefurtherbenefits.Restrictedmarketingcanserveto equalisethecompetitiveenvironmentforcompaniesofdifferentsizes.Froman enforcementviewpoint,aset ofuniversalstandardscansupportnationalauthorities,the privatesectorandcivilsocietytoensurecomplianceandtorespondtoinfringements. Further,wherenationalauthoritiesdonothavethecapacitytoensurechildrenand adolescentsareprotectedfromlocalorcross‐bordermarketingoffoodsandbeverages,a setofinternationally‐agreedstandardscanensureacommon,minimumlevelofprotection foryoungpeopleinallnations. 20 WHO,2010.63 rd WorldHealthAssembly.http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA63/A63_R14‐ en.pdf.Seealsohttp://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/recsmarketing/en/index.html 6 2.Company‐ledself‐regulation Inthissectionwefocusoncompany‐ledvoluntaryinitiativeswhichseektoextendbeyond theindustry‐widemarketingcodesandadvertisingco‐regulatorymechanisms.Weconsider someofthemoreprominentproblemsthathavebeenencounteredwithindustry‐ledself‐ regulatoryapproaches.Theexamplesaredrawnprimarilyfromcompanyactivitiesin Europe,althoughitshouldbenotedthatthesamecompanies’websitesinotherregionsare easilyaccessedbyEuropeanchildren.Inthiswaycompaniescan‘off‐shore’someoftheir marketingactivitiesdirectedtochildreninEurope. Severalconcernsaroundself‐regulationarise.Self‐imposedrulesmaybe: • poorlyorinconsistentlydefined • erraticallyorinsufficientlymonitored • weaklyorinconsistentlyenforced Thisreportwillnotexploretheissuesofmonitoringandenforcement,althoughtheseare seriousconcernsthatneedtobeaddressedbypolicy‐makers.Atpresent,monitoringand complaint‐handlingbodiesdonotenforcecompany‐ledinitiatives.Alackofanindependent complaintmechanismcanleaveconsumersfrustrated,andalackofenforcementallows company‐ledinitiativestoberolledbackatanytime.Ifamonitoringandcomplaint‐ handlingbodywereestablisheditwouldneedtogainconsumerconfidence,forwhichit wouldneed(a)tobetransparentinoperationwithroutineregularpublicationsoftheir activities;(b)tobeindependentandfreefromindustryinfluence,andseentobeso;and(c) toensurethattheirservicesareeasilyandinexpensivelyaccessedbyconsumers.Penalties mustbecommensuratewiththesizeofthemarketingbudgetsinvolvedandwiththe estimatedexposureofchildrentotheoffendingcommercialmessages. Afurtherconcernistheneedtoensurethat,whateverthedifferencesindefinitionsor approaches,allcompaniesshouldmakesomecommitmenttoofferself‐restraint.Inthe Europeanregiononly11companieshavejoinedthescheme,alongwiththeEuropean SnacksAssociation.Severalmajorcompanies,includingMcDonald’s,KFCandHaribo,and manysmalleronesarenotincluded. Problemsofdefinitions Companieschoosetherulestoimposeuponthemselves.Asaresulttherearelikelytobe discrepanciesandinconsistencies.Hereweshalllookatsuchproblemsencounteredwithin thepledgesandpromisesandactivitiesundertakenbycompaniesintheEuropeanUnion. Whatageisachild? Thetablebelowprovidesexamplesofdefinitionsoftheage‐rangefor‘child’bycompanies participatingintheEUpledgescheme.Pleasenotethattheinterpretationofacompany policycanbecomplex,andreadersareadvisedtocheckthecompanystatementsfor themselves(hyperlinksareprovided). 7 Table1AgedefinitionsincompanyEUpledges(clickhyperlinkfordetails) Organization Agefornomarketing Ageformarketingofspecifiedproducts Coca‐Cola <12* Ferrero <12* Mars <12**** GeneralMills/CPW 0‐6 6‐12 Nestlé 0‐6~ 6‐12~~ Unilever 0‐6 6‐12** Kellogg 0‐6* 6‐12 + Kraft 0‐6** 6‐11/12 ++ ** Danone 0‐3 3‐12* BurgerKing 0‐12*** PepsiCo 0‐12* *≥50%ofaudiencemustbechildren;**≥35%ofaudiencemustbechildren;***≥30%ofaudiencemustbe children.****≥25%ofaudiencemustbechildren.~unlessanadultispresent.~~unlessadults predominate. + ≥35%forsomeshowsand≥50%forothers. ++ 11forprintmedia,otherwise12. Whichproductscanbepromoted? IntheUSAalargenumberofcompany‐promotedmodelshavebeenproposedfordefining thenutritionalcriteriaforfoodstobemarketedtochildren 21 andasimilarproblemhas ariseninEurope.Thenexttablegivesexamplesofnutrientmethodsfordefiningfoodsas suitableformarketingtochildren,asproposedbysomeofthecompaniesintheEUpledge: Table2Company‐setcriteriaforfoodstheycanmarkettochildren Company Energy (kcal) Total fat Saturated fat Trans fat Added sodium Added sugar Notes BurgerKing perchild’s meal ≤560 <30% energy <10%energy 0g≤660mg≤10% energy Noartificial colourings, flavourings Kelloggper serving ≤200‐ ≤2g 0g≤230mg≤12g Exceptionsfor waffles. GeneralMills perserving withoutmilk <175‐ ≤1.7g‐≤200mg≤12g Wholegrain≥8g; vitamins&minerals ≥15%RDAper100g PepsiCoper specified amount ≤150 (snacks) ≤35% energy ≤10%energy <0.5g≤150mg≤10% energy Cholesterol≤30mg; exceptionsforsome products Unilever‐‐≤13%energy and ≤33%of totalfat ≤2% energy ≤1,6 mg/kcal ≤7g/100g Totalsugars≤25% energy;exceptions forsomeproducts Kraft Specificcriteriafordifferentfoodgroups. Nestlé Specificcriteriafordifferentfoodgroups. 21 BetterBusinessBureauCouncil(2008)TheChildren’sFood&BeverageAdvertisingInitiativeInAction.See http://www.bbb.org/us/storage/16/documents/CFBAI/ChildrenF&BInit_Sept21.pdf [...]... Proposal: Risk reduction means excluding techniques with special appeal to children and adolescents. This includes the use of cartoon characters, animation, celebrities, sports personalities, and the colouring, shaping and design of products and packaging likely to have a particular appeal to children and adolescents. A high standard: A comprehensive approach acknowledges that children and adolescents ... Issue: The promotion of some foods and beverages can undermine children s dietary health. Proposal: Risk reduction means promoting only those food and beverage products which conform to national dietary guidelines and international standards supporting the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health29. A high standard: Food and beverages should be categorised according to a validated nutrient profiling system. Examples may include the UK Ofcom model used to regulate ... Convention on Tobacco Control provides a comprehensive definition: ‘all forms of commercial communication, recommendation or action and any form of contribution to an event, activity or individual’.35 Standard 4: Marketing methods Issue: Most marketing works below conscious awareness, and children in particular may be vulnerable to marketing messages of special appeal to them. Many marketing methods fall outside current advertising regulations. ... presentation are included, as are sponsored sports events and product placements. A high standard: A comprehensive approach assumes all media unless specifically exempted. Media broadcast across several time zones should be assumed to reach children and adolescents. Examples from other sectors include Facebook, which prohibits tobacco and gambling marketing and restricts alcohol marketing. 34 For tobacco, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control provides a comprehensive definition: ‘all forms of ... target age groups should be significantly above the minimum legal age: an example is the ban on targeting alcoholic beverages to people under age 25 required by Facebook in India and Sweden.33 For food and beverages, the UK Ofcom regulations apply during television programmes which appeal to children under age 16. Standard 3: Media used for marketing messages Issue: Children have access to a wide range of media. In addition, cross‐border media services are not easily controlled by the jurisdiction in the territory where the message is ... In this section we propose standards based on a responsible approach to marketing on the understanding that children should not be subjected to inducements to consume products which, if consumed routinely, are likely to be detrimental to their health. Where available we show examples of the use of similar standards in other sectors. Standard 1: Specifying the foods and beverages Issue: The promotion of some foods and beverages can undermine children s dietary health. ... apply to ‘product promotion, distribution, selling, advertising, product public relations, and information services’. These phrases can be adapted with the addition of ‘able to influence a child’. Standard 5: Use of brands Issue: Products and media may carry a brand identity for a company linked to food or beverage products without specifying a food or beverage or giving an explicit marketing message. Proposal: Risk reduction means brands with recognisable links to food and beverage ... indicators Research 12 Member States are encouraged to identify existing information on the extent, nature and effects of food marketing to children in their country They are also encouraged to support further research in this area, especially research focused on implementation and evaluation of policies to reduce the impact on children of marketing of foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids,... Set of Recommendations on the Marketing of Foods and Non‐alcoholic Beverages to Children4 2 Rationale 1 The policy aim should be to reduce the impact on children of marketing of foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, or salt 2 Given that the effectiveness of marketing is a function of exposure and power, the overall policy objective should be to reduce both the exposure of children to, and power of, marketing. .. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/business/media/21xbox.html?_r=2&ref=media 17 Proposed standards As noted earlier, the objective of universal standards is to institute rules which achieve maximum protection while remaining practical and economical in application. Although it could be proposed that children should not be exposed to any marketing, the present document takes a ‘risk‐based’ approach to reducing exposure to the marketing of food and . A junk‐free childhood: Responsible standards for marketing foods and beverages to children A briefingpaperfromTheStanMarkProjectofthe InternationalAssociation for theStudyofObesity PreparedbyTimLobstein,TriinParn and AngeAikenhead StanMark Standards for Marketing to children. The marketing of foods and non‐alcoholic beverages with a highcontentoffat, sugarorsaltreaches children throughouttheworld.Effortsmustbemade to ensurethat children everywhereareprotectedagainsttheimpactofsuch marketing and giventheopportunity to grow and developinanenablingfood environment—onethatfosters and encourageshealthydietarychoices and promotesthemaintenanceofhealthyweight. DrAlaAlwan,AssistantDirectorGeneral, WorldHealthOrganization StanMark Standards for marketing to children TheStanMarkprojectbringstogetherresearchers and policy‐makers to develop a setof standards for marketing foods and beverages consistentwiththeresolutionoftheWorldHealthAssembly. Objectives Convene a seriesofmeetingsinEurope and theUSA to bringtogetherkeymembersofthescientific researchcommunity and policy‐makingcommunity to considerhow marketing food and beverages mayaffect children shealth. Identifycurrent‘bestpractice’approaches to thecontrolof marketing, includingmeasuresnot specificallyaddressingfood and beverage marketing, ornotspecificallydirected to theprotectionof children. Exploretheuseof standards and marketing codes to influencecommercialactivity,including standards fromotherindustrialsectors. Propose a setof standards to formthebasis for a cross‐bordercodeof marketing of foods and beverages. Developweb‐basedresources for policydevelopmentconcerningfood and beverage marketing to children and relatedmaterials to supportpolicydevelopment. Projectpartners