Australian Government seeking consultation on food marketing

Current measures to reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing in Australia are predominantly industry led and voluntary in nature, with minimal regulatory protections in place.

The Australian Government is now investing in a feasibility study to examine the landscape of unhealthy food marketing to children. The study is designed to provide a better understanding of the options available to limit such marketing and advertising, as well as the costs and benefits of these options, with recommendations to be provided to the government by mid-2024.

The Department of Health and Aged Care has oversight of the study and has engaged a project team to undertake the study. The research will be led by the University of Wollongong, with the project team including nutrition experts in research of unhealthy food marketing to children and health economic analysis.

A consultation is currently underway that is designed to obtain a better understanding of the potential impacts of this government action. They are asking stakeholders about alternative options that could be considered to address unhealthy food marketing to children in Australia. Information on costs to relevant industries, preferred policy options, barriers and enablers, and monitoring and evaluation considerations is highly valued.

The consultation is now running until 15 March 2024, and details can be accessed here.

Image credit: iStock.com/AzmanL