The Food Commission Research Charity is inviting everyone to join them and take action against the clever marketing strategies of companies which produce junk foods. Their request follows the recent publication of a report by Which? ñ formerly the Consumers Association, highlighting 40 ways that children are targeted by marketing for unhealthy food; techniques so sophisticated that parents, guardians or teachers may not be aware of them.
Kath Dalmeny, of the Food Commission, said: ‘We’ve got to help young people and their families become much more savvy about the ways junk food companies infiltrate their unhealthy messages into the lives of children and teenagers.’

The Food Commission has been lobbying the government to introduce new statutory regulations to ban junk food marketing aimed at children. A website that takes a no-nonsense approach to informing young people about the adverse effects of eating junk is also available. The site is intended to empower teenagers by giving them an understanding of the foods they eat and demonstrate how they are targeted by junk food manufacturers. It also examines the huge budgets behind their advertising and encourages teenagers to question why so many film stars, athletes, car-toon characters and pop singers are willing to promote unhealthy foods. There are also links and information for concerned parents and teachers.

Contact: www.chewonthis.org.uk or: The Food Commission, 94 White Lion Street, London, N1 9PF. Tel: 020 7837 2250