Dr Stefanie Vandevijvere, Alanna Soupen, University of Auckland
Figure 1: McDonald’s supporting junior football in New Zealand – http://stoppress.co.nz/news/world-cup-fever-hits-mcdonalds-release-new-menu-items
This blog looks at five important ways that the Children’s Code for Advertising Food could be substantially improved to protect children and young people from obesity and poor oral health. Although public health experts would generally favour a regulatory approach (given the lack of evidence for an industry-controlled process and voluntary codes (1)), the current review of the voluntary Advertising Codes in NZ does present another opportunity for the food industry to show they do want to be part of the solution to reduce New Zealand’s unacceptably high rates of obesity in children and young people (2).
