Promotion of foods to children review published

Thursday 25 September 2003

A review of research examining the way foods are promoted to children, and the possible link between promotional activity and child eating patterns, is published by the Food Standards Agency today.

The research review was commissioned by the Agency to examine existing evidence and provide a more in-depth understanding of the extent and nature of food promotion to children; how children respond to food promotion; whether it influences their food preferences; and if it does, the extent of that influence compared to other factors and whether the influence applies to types of food as well as brands.

The report, 'Does Food Promotion Influence Children? A Systematic Review of the Evidence,' was produced for the Food Standards Agency by Professor Gerard Hastings and his team at the University of Strathclyde Centre for Social Marketing.

Professor Hastings said: 'This is a comprehensive and extremely thorough review of evidence on this important and complex issue.

'It reaches a number of significant conclusions about the link between promotional activities and children's eating behaviour.

'In particular, it concludes that advertising to children does have an effect on their preferences, purchase behaviour and consumption, and these effects are apparent not just for different brands but also for different types of food.'

Following the publication of Professor Hasting's research review, the Agency intends to draw on the conclusions of his report, to inform and promote open public debate, and will be hosting a series of meetings involving a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in, or concern about, the promotion of food to children.

This will include a meeting of leading academics to discuss the review findings, and a public meeting to debate the issues.

The Agency's Board will then consider the outcomes of the public debate, and discuss the options available.