New International Code Proposal

On March 15th 2008 The world federation of consumer organisations and the International Obesity Task Force launched their proposals to drastically restrict the scope and scale of junk food marketing to children across the globe.

Adoption of the Code would be major step in helping to protect children. There are currently 177 million children threatened by obesity related diseases. The WHO predicts 2.3 billion people over the age of 15 will be overweight by 2015.

Consumers International (CI) also launched a new Junk Food Generation campaign website: www.junkfoodgeneration.org/

Download CI's Obesity Figures fact sheet

Download CI's Marketing Spend fact sheet

Download a the actual Code (10 page document)

The International Code on Marketing of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages to Children demands:

1. A ban on radio or TV adverts promoting unhealthy food between 6am and 9pm
2. No marketing of unhealthy food using new media (such as websites, social networking sites and text messaging)
3. No promotion of unhealthy food in schools
4. No inclusion of free gifts, toys or collectible items which appeal to children to promote unhealthy foods
5. No use of celebrities, cartoon characters or competitions to market unhealthy food.