Take Action – Protect our children from junk food marketing

Children are vulnerable; they cannot discriminate between a programme and an advertisement.

We know that the marketing and advertising of junk food and drink influences children’s choices and consumption, and contributes to obesity.

We have a comic to tell the story about why children need to be protected from the ubiquitous marketing of unhealthy food and drink.

The evidence shows the majority of food and drink marketing is for unhealthy products like fast food and soft drinks, yet the only controls are through the industry’s own Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Codes. These codes do not go far enough to protect children. Comprehensive regulatory changes are required.

Testing the Code and reducing this marketing requires complaining about specific ads. We have developed a How to Guide to simplify the process of making a complaint to the ASA.

HAT is also asking people to look out for ads for unhealthy food and drink aimed at children. You can share an inappropriate ad on Instagram and use the hashtag #dumpthejunknz

Our supporters

This is a collaborative initiative created by a working group of Healthy Auckland Together. The comic is supported by the following HAT partners: Mana Whenua I Tamaki Makaurau, Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua, Auckland Transport, Aktive  - Auckland Sport & Recreation, Auckland Council, Healthy Families Waitakere, Toi Tangata, Auckland Dental Association, Tamaki Healthy Families Alliance, Auckland disability interest groups, Auckland Regional Public Health Service, Auckland District Health Board, Waitemata District Health Board, Counties Manukau District Health Board, University of Auckland School of Population Health, Auckland Primary Health Organisations, Hapai te Hauora, The National Institute for Health Innovation and The Asian Network.