Celebrity chef and health experts stir up excitement around childhood nutrition

"The Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition teams up with Jamie Oliver on childhood nutrition. Image: CNW Group/Heart and Stroke Foundation

TORONTO - British chef/author Jamie Oliver and members of the Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition and other experts discussed the need for an action plan to overhaul the nutrition landscape in Canada. Acknowledging that there is no "magic bullet" to improve unhealthy diets the panel identified a range of solutions to support Canadian families to make healthy choices.

Also read, U of T researchers call for guidelines, better labeling to curb sugar consumption.

"It is about healthy habits for everyone. Family meals are important, learning how to cook your own meals and cooking that food together. Making sure you get your fruits and vegetables and physical activity, cutting out sugary drinks, and decreasing screen time – which is so important for marketing to kids, " said Dr. Tom Warshawski, Chair, Childhood Obesity Foundation.

Strategies include restricting food and beverage marketing to kids, implementing a levy on sugary beverages to fund healthy living initiatives, improved nutrition labeling, ensuring healthy choices in schools and other settings, investing in Indigenous food programs, and better food education. 

"Industry self-regulation is a failure. The standards are lax, participation is voluntary and there is more advertising and marketing targeted to children than ever before," said Geoff Craig, Chief Marketing Officer, Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Jamie Oliver spoke about the enormity of the food business globally and the urgent need for action around childhood nutrition and obesity. He acknowledged Health Minister Jane Philpott's clear mandate on restricting marketing to kids and expressed his hope that Canada would seize the opportunity to be a global leader around nutrition policy and action.

He pointed out that Canada is on the brink of something huge and urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to implement a plan that "can't be good, it has to be fantastic."

Stats

• The majority – 90 per cent – of marketed food and beverage products is high in fat, sugar and salt.
• The Internet is a key venue – 85% of food brands most heavily promoted to children have websites that directly target children or have content that interests them.
• 70% of Canadian children do not eat the minimum daily recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables.
• Sugar-loaded beverages are the single greatest contributor of sugar in our diets – one can contains 40 grams, or 10 teaspoons of sugar.
• Evidence links excess sugar intake and sugary drinks, with adverse health effects including obesity, heart disease and stroke, diabetes and other metabolic conditions, dental caries, and certain types of cancer.
• 31% of Canadian children and youth ages 5 to 17 are overweight or obese.
• Over the past 70 years, consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods in Canada has doubled, from 30% of the average family's food purchases to 60%.

Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition:
The Stop Marketing to Kids (Stop M2K) Coalition was founded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation in collaboration with the Childhood Obesity Foundation in 2014. The Stop M2K Coalition is made up of 11 non-governmental organizations with written endorsement from dozens of additional organizations and individuals. Our goal: to restrict all food and beverage marketing to children and youth 16 years and under.

For more information about the coalition visit including a list of partners and endorsers visit www.stopmarketingtokids.ca

Source Heart and Stroke Foundation