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New nutrition criteria for advertising to kids pledge in Canada
15/10/2014
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In order to help parents and kids make healthier choices, eighteen leading food and beverage companies have come together to support one set of standard nutrition criteria for advertising products to children under twelve, the Canadian Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CAI) announced today.
The CAI, administered by Advertising Standards Canada (ASC), is a voluntary program designed to shift advertising of food and beverages to children to the promotion of healthier choices.
At present, companies participating in the CAI either don't advertise to children or have committed to advertise only better-for-you products to children under twelve. Today's changes mean all companies that advertise to children will follow one set of standards to identify whether a food or beverage can or cannot be advertised – whether it meets the “better-for-you” criteria – as part of the program.
The changes to the program include:
The new criteria are expected to affect approximately 35% of products currently advertised by participants, and come into effect on 31 December 2015.
ASC also released today its 2013 CAI Compliance Report, as well as Public Opinion Research on Canadians' perspectives about healthier food choices. Conducted by H+K Perspectives, the research found that when asked about the causes of childhood obesity, only 14% of respondents thought “too much marketing of unhealthy food and beverages aimed at children” was a major cause of obesity.
The annual Compliance Report confirms a continuing high level of compliance by companies participating in the programme: “We are pleased to report excellent compliance by all participants in 2013,” said Linda Nagel, ASC. “This is consistent with previous years and demonstrates ongoing participant commitment to the programme.”
Participating companies are: Campbell Company of Canada; Coca-Cola Ltd.; Danone Inc.; Ferrero Canada Ltd.; General Mills Canada Corporation; Hershey Canada Inc.; Kellogg Canada Inc.; Kraft Canada Inc.; Mars Canada Inc.; McCain Foods (Canada); McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited; Mondel%u0113z Canada; Nestlé Canada Inc.; Parmalat Canada; PepsiCo Canada ULC; Post Foods Canada Inc., Unilever Canada Inc. and Weston Bakeries Limited.
For more information on the Canadian Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative contact David Rodier, [email protected].
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The CAI, administered by Advertising Standards Canada (ASC), is a voluntary program designed to shift advertising of food and beverages to children to the promotion of healthier choices.
At present, companies participating in the CAI either don't advertise to children or have committed to advertise only better-for-you products to children under twelve. Today's changes mean all companies that advertise to children will follow one set of standards to identify whether a food or beverage can or cannot be advertised – whether it meets the “better-for-you” criteria – as part of the program.
The changes to the program include:
- uniform nutrition criteria for eight distinct product categories %u2212 milk and alternatives; grain; soups; meat and alternatives; vegetables and fruit; occasional snacks; mixed dishes; meals on the go
- calorie maximums for products within each category
- criteria for “nutrients to limit”, i.e. saturated and trans fats, sodium and total sugars
- criteria for “nutrients to encourage”, i.e. vitamins, minerals and fibre
The new criteria are expected to affect approximately 35% of products currently advertised by participants, and come into effect on 31 December 2015.
ASC also released today its 2013 CAI Compliance Report, as well as Public Opinion Research on Canadians' perspectives about healthier food choices. Conducted by H+K Perspectives, the research found that when asked about the causes of childhood obesity, only 14% of respondents thought “too much marketing of unhealthy food and beverages aimed at children” was a major cause of obesity.
The annual Compliance Report confirms a continuing high level of compliance by companies participating in the programme: “We are pleased to report excellent compliance by all participants in 2013,” said Linda Nagel, ASC. “This is consistent with previous years and demonstrates ongoing participant commitment to the programme.”
Participating companies are: Campbell Company of Canada; Coca-Cola Ltd.; Danone Inc.; Ferrero Canada Ltd.; General Mills Canada Corporation; Hershey Canada Inc.; Kellogg Canada Inc.; Kraft Canada Inc.; Mars Canada Inc.; McCain Foods (Canada); McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited; Mondel%u0113z Canada; Nestlé Canada Inc.; Parmalat Canada; PepsiCo Canada ULC; Post Foods Canada Inc., Unilever Canada Inc. and Weston Bakeries Limited.
For more information on the Canadian Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative contact David Rodier, [email protected].
Sign up to monthly WFA news
