The study found that there has been no reduction in junk food advertisements during children’s peak viewing times despite voluntary self-regulatory initiatives introduced by the food industry in 2009.

The study has found that children are being exposed to an average of three unhealthy food advertisements every hour that they watch TV during peak periods. This figure remains unchanged since Cancer Council NSW and University of Sydney conducted the same analysis in 2011.

Cancer Council NSW’s study analysed advertisements broadcast during peak children’s viewing times on the three major free-to-air commercial television channels over a four day period.

44 percent of food advertisements were for unhealthy foods, with 1 in 5 ads being for fast food. Besides fast food ads, other frequently advertised categories were chocolate and confectionary and sugary drinks.

Reducing exposure of children to unhealthy food marketing is part of a comprehensive package of recommendations to address childhood obesity from the World Health Organization.

In 2009 The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) introduced two self-regulatory initiatives to reduce advertising and marketing to children for food and beverage products that are not healthier choices.

Read more at https://www.cancercouncil.com.au.