Monitoring complaints about food marketing to children under the Australian industry Codes 2015–20: a qualitative analysis

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the case reports of complaints regarding food marketing to children over six years and compare Australian marketing Codes to best practice recommendations. Methods: Case reports on complaints about food marketing to children under the five industry Codes – the Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative, the Quick Service Restaurant Initiative and the Australian Association of National Advertisers Code of Ethics, Code of Advertising and Marketing to Children and Food and Beverages Code – were qualitatively analysed. Reports on the Ad Standards website in the food/beverage groceries and food/beverage venues categories from 2015-2020 were investigated. The most common clauses from the Codes were identified and quotes from reports used to illustrate the determinations. Codes were compared with World Cancer Research Fund recommendations on policy to protect children. Results: Only 14 of 119 complaints resulted in a reported breach of industry Codes. The most common reason for dismissing complaints involved clauses requiring advertisements to be ‘primarily’ directed to children. The Codes did not align with best practice recommendations. Conclusions: Complaints by the public show concern for food advertising to children but the Australian industry Codes fall short of addressing those concerns. Implications for public health: Government regulation is required to protect children from unhealthy food marketing.