Firms pledge responsible advertising to children to support healthy lifestyles

SINGAPORE: Fourteen of Singapore’s leading food and beverage companies have pledged to change the way they advertise their products to children.

The pledge signatories are Coca—Cola, Ferrero, FrieslandCampina, General Mills, Kellogg’s, Kerry, Mars, McCain, McDonald’s, Mondelēz, Nestl, Pepsico, Suntory and Unilever.

The Responsible Advertising to Children Pledge is the first of its kind in Singapore and forms part of an ongoing commitment by the food and beverage industry to support healthy and active lifestyles.

It is designed to reduce advertising of foods to children that are high in saturated fats, trans—fatty acids, sugars or salt.

All have agreed to only advertise products that meet agreed nutritional criteria based on accepted scientific evidence or applicable national and international dietary guidelines to children under 12 years of age or not advertise to children under 12 years of age at all.

The companies have also committed not to engage in any product communication in primary schools unless requested by, or agreed with, the school administration for educational purposes or to promote active and healthy living.

Individual company commitments will come into effect on 1 January 2013. Regular independent monitoring will be published to demonstrate compliance.

— CNA/de