In September 2003 The Food Standards Agency published a comprehensive review of research into food promotion and children which concluded that advertising does affect children’s food choices and behaviour, and not just which brands but the types of food they choose.

The review included a discussion paper on possible options for action on the promotion of foods that could improve children's diets and health. The Board of the Agency will decide next year, following public debate, which policy options it wishes to recommend to Government.

To read more about the FSA reviews visit www.food.gov.uk

Top Tips

The following 'Top Tips' have been developed by The Food Advertising Unit (FAU) to help parents deal with the daily reality of the media and children's exposure to food advertising.

1). The Family That Watches Together Learns Together - make an effort to know what your children are watching, reading and listening to and watch/read/listen with them. This allows your children to interactively learn about the media in a supportive family environment.

2). Be open to discussion. Share your values and ideas on media and the commercial environment with your family but be prepared to listen to their views as well. This promotes an open conversation rather than your children feeling nagged or dictated to.

3). Encourage your children to tell you what they like and dislike, or what they find confusing about television.

4). Ask your child questions about programmes and adverts, and encourage them to question what they see in the media.

5). Discuss plots, story lines, feelings and emotions that the media may bring forward.

6). Help your child to understand that the media is constructed for a commercial purpose, and that this includes the advertisements and programming/editorial.

7). Vary Your Viewing - Help your children investigate the different sorts of media available to them. A varied diet of commercial and public channels/publications on terrestrial and satellite, TV, press and radio will help them understand how the media works.

8). Don't Treat Your Teenager Like A Toddler (or vice-versa) - Children's understanding of their environment alters at different stages of development. Adjust to your child's development.

9). Include Children in Your Shopping Decisions - Explain to them why you make the choices you do about the products you buy.

10). You're Not In This Alone - Talk with other parents, they're an ideal source of information and support.

The Food Advertising Unit is a centre for information, communication and research in the area of food and soft drink advertising, particularly TV advertising to children. The FAU is very involved in the current news stories surrounding food and drink advertising to children and the related issues of childhood overweight and obesity.

If you would like to share your feedback on the Tips above or any of your own ideas for handling the issue of children and the media please contact them at fau@fau.org.uk or visit www.fau.org.uk

SUPPORT LINK

Organix

Organix is a caring company; their spirit and values are the things that make them different from the rest. To read more about Organix visit their site for support and advice on how to introduce a healthy nutritional diet. www.organix.com

Information about Organix and their products can be found on our Organix pages