Spain to Regulate Unhealthy Food Advertising Targeted at Children

This Monday, Pablo Bustinduy, the Minister of Social Rights, Consumption, and the 2030 Agenda, announced plans for a regulatory proposal aimed at controlling the advertising of unhealthy foods that negatively impact the health of children and adolescents. This announcement was made during the unveiling of the Barometer on Food and Energy Drinks Advertising, prepared by AECOC Shopperview for the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN). The findings reveal that a significant 79% of the Spanish populace supports a ban on such advertising. Currently, Spanish children face an overwhelming onslaught of over 4,000 advertisements for unhealthy foods every year, averaging nearly 11 ads per day on television alone. When factoring in other media channels, the daily exposure skyrockets to approximately 30 ads, prompting Bustinduy's strong warning regarding the pervasive nature of these advertisements. Bustinduy highlighted that these statistics underscore a societal recognition of the issues surrounding children's vulnerability to advertising for unhealthy products. He emphasized the crucial need to safeguard minors from such widespread marketing strategies. Alarmingly, data indicates that 80% of children and adolescents in Spain consume unhealthy foods and beverages. Those most frequently exposed to aggressive food advertising tend to be the heaviest consumers, particularly vulnerable demographics. The minister articulated concerns about children in more disadvantaged situations, who are subjected to a relentless influx of marketing designed to shape their behaviors—often without the critical faculties to discern advertising content due to their age. Bustinduy stressed the responsibility of public authorities to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all minors, free from exploitative commercial practices that prioritize profit over public welfare. The forthcoming regulation is part of a broader initiative that includes a royal decree on healthy and sustainable school cafeterias and aims to promote the highest standards of healthy eating in public settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. As Bustinduy remarked, addressing this issue is paramount for public health, and the new regulation seeks to prioritize the interests of children over commercial gain. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2