Did you know kids see about 17 junk food ads an hour online? That’s around 168 a week!
Junk food ads are taking over our screens, from TV to video games. Luckily, there’s a fun new campaign to fight back: Brands off our Kids!
Launched by the Food for Health Alliance, the campaign is pressing for tighter rules around advertising unhealthy foods to kids. They’ve even sent a letter to Federal Health Minister Mark Butler, backed by over 40 top Aussie health and community groups.
They are urging the Australian Government to take swift action to protect children from unhealthy food and drink advertising. This comes after the UK announced last week that by October 2025 it will implement a ban on junk food marketing on television before 9pm and paid junk food advertising online.
TV advertising, as well as Online adverts are key target areas for the campaign, with young kids exposed to over 800 unhealthy food ads a year. The UK tackled this issue with the “AdEnough” campaign, led by none other than Jamie Oliver.
As Jamie put it, “If you’ve had enough of the bombardment and targeting of junk food to British kids, then you can get involved right now.” It worked, with new restrictions rolling out soon. Now, Australia’s being asked to step up and think about even more restrictions, like banning ads with cartoons and prizes. If we can ban social media for kids, surely we can ban junk food advertising!?
