Frequently Asked Questions: Marketing of Food and Drinks consultation
What is the Marketing of Food and Drinks consultation?
The ACT Government is seeking ideas from the community about ways to reduce the marketing of unhealthy food and drink and increase the promotion of healthy alternatives, particularly to children.
Why is the government consulting?
The consultation is in support of the Government’s Towards Zero Growth: Healthy Weight Action
Plan (HWAP), which aims to tackle the growing health and economic problem of obesity across the
ACT community.
A recent audit by the Heart Foundation ACT found high volumes of marketing of unhealthy food and beverages in various ACT locations.
How will the information collected from the consultation be used?
The feedback will be analysed with aim of identifying potential voluntary actions that may be considered by the community, businesses, sporting organisations and the ACT Government to increase the promotion of healthy food and drinks and reduce the marketing influence of unhealthy alternatives.
Is there any evidence that marketing of unhealthy food and drinks contributes to increasing obesity rates?
A review of the evidence by the World Health Organisation concluded that food advertising influences food preference and consumption and strong evidence that food advertising influences children’s purchasing and purchase requests. Unhealthy diets lead to unhealthy weight.
Will reducing the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages adversely affect business?
The aim of the engagement is to hold a conversation, to find potential voluntary actions that are acceptable to all involved.
How will sporting organisations continue to exist if they do not receive funding from the marketing of unhealthy food and drinks?
The intention of the stakeholder engagement is to explore options with sporting organisations and assess possible solutions.
How can individuals, groups or organisations provide input to the consultation?
Submissions can be provided between 29 September to 23 November 2015 via:
• online questionnaire available at www.health.act.gov.au/food-marketing
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In person at
Public information sessions o At Canberra Centre (outside Supabarn) - 11am–2pm Thursday 15 October or o Tuggeranong Hyperdome (near Coles) - 11am–2pm Friday 23 October o The Marketplace Gungahlin (near Woolworths) - 11am–2pm Saturday 31 October
Community organisation forum o Theo Notaris Multi Cultural Centre, 180 London Circuit. 12–2pm Thursday 22 October
Business forum hosted by the Canberra Business Chamber o 3pm Tuesday 27 October: Contact foodenvironment@act.gov.au
to register

• Via post:
Food and Drink Marketing Consultation, Population Health Division, ACT Health
GPO Box 825 Canberra ACT 2601
For more information visit www.health.act.gov.au/food-marketing or contact :