How does European law protect us from «junk food» advertisements?
A new report just published by the World Obesity Foundation warns that more than 220m children will be obese by 2040 without drastic action. European countries and organisations are working to counteract this trend. In this light, the European Audiovisual Observatory, part of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, has just announced the publication of its latest note, «Advertising of 'junk food' in European and national law: focus on self-regulation».
The paper focuses on how European and national legal frameworks refer to the use of self-regulation to address one of today’s most pressing public health challenges: the omnipresent advertising of foods high in fat, sugar, and/or salt (HFSS) – colloquially known as «junk food». This regulatory challenge is closely linked to safeguarding children in both traditional and digital media environments.
The analysis, written by European Audiovisual Observatory legal analyst Eric Munch, reflects a context of an ever-evolving media backdrop and rising childhood obesity rates in Europe and worldwide. The note reveals that while the Audiovisual media services directive charts a path, the real-world implementation is diverse and complex across Europe.