January 22/New York/Tendersinfo News -- Television advertising is responsible for a large share of the marketing of unhealthy foods and, according to available evidence, advertisements influence children s food preferences, purchase requests and consumption patterns, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In May last year, WHO member states endorsed a new set of recommendations on the marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages to children. The recommendations call for national and international action to reduce the exposure of children to marketing messages that promote foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, or salt, and to reduce the use of powerful techniques to market them to children.

"Noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers and diabetes, today represent a leading threat to human health and socio-economic development," said Ala Alwan, the WHO assistant director-general for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health.

"Implementing these recommendations should be part of broad efforts to prevent unhealthy diets a key risk factor for several noncommunicable diseases," he said.

"Implementing the recommendations will help countries strengthen their ability to foster and encourage healthy dietary choices for children and promote the maintenance of a healthy weight," Alwan continued.

From the January 24, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News
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