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.