GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Science and Technology/ Government Policies: Health
Source: DTE
Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidelines to protect children from the harmful effects of food marketing that promotes unhealthy dietary choices.
Need for the guidelines:
In 2017, to understand the linkages between food and NCDs, the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) conducted the Know your diet — school children survey. The survey found that
- Most schoolchildren were not eating a balanced diet
- Children had a low frequency of intake of cereals, vegetables and millet
- Packaged food was more popular among children than non-packaged food
Previous guidelines:
- 2010 WHO ‘Set of recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children
- In March 2023, WHO published a set of nutritional criteria which aimed to protect children from marketing that promoted unhealthy food and non-alcoholic beverages.
The recommendations include:
| Recommendations | Description |
| Implement comprehensive mandatory policies | Protect children of all ages from the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages that are high in saturated fatty acids, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, and/or salt through the implementation of comprehensive mandatory policies. |
| Restrict marketing of unhealthy foods | Restrict the marketing of specific unhealthy food categories to children, including high in saturated fatty acids, trans-fatty acids, free sugars and/or salt (HFSS), fast food, etc. |
| Address marketing in various settings | Address food marketing in locations where children frequently gather, such as schools and sports clubs. Also, regulate marketing during children’s television viewing times, in digital spaces popular among young people, and in magazines targeting children and adolescents. |
| Consider country context | Take into account the country’s nutritional situation, cultural context, locally available foods, dietary customs, available resources and capacities, and existing governance structures while formulating policies. |
| Use a nutrient profile model | Encourage countries to use a nutrient profile model to identify and classify unhealthy foods and beverages that should be subject to marketing restrictions. |
| Minimize migration of marketing | Design policies that are comprehensive enough to minimize the migration of marketing across different channels or settings. |
| Protect all children | Emphasize the protection of all children, using the definition of a child from the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The guidelines aim to ensure that marketing regulations apply uniformly to children of all ages, including younger and older children, to safeguard their health and well-being. |
| Establish strong and comprehensive regulations | Encourage governments to establish robust and comprehensive regulations to address the aggressive and pervasive marketing of foods and beverages high in fats, sugars, and salt to children. |
Harmful Effects of Eating Non-nutritious Food for Children:
| Examples | |
| Nutritional deficiencies | Lack of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients necessary for growth and development. |
| Childhood obesity | Excessive consumption of sugary snacks, fast food, and sugar-sweetened beverages leads to weight gain and obesity. |
| Increased risk of chronic diseases | Consumption of high-fat, high-sugar, and high-sodium foods is associated with an increased risk of developing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. |
| Poor cognitive function and academic performance | Inadequate intake of nutrient-rich foods can impair brain development, leading to poor cognitive function and reduced academic performance. |
| Dental health problems | Frequent consumption of sugary foods and beverages can contribute to tooth decay and cavities. |
| Disrupted eating habits and food preferences | Exposure to unhealthy food marketing can influence children’s food preferences, leading to a preference for unhealthy, non-nutritious foods. |
| Negative impact on overall health and well-being | Non-nutritious food can contribute to low energy levels, fatigue, poor immune function, and a general decline in overall health and well-being. |
| Development of unhealthy dietary patterns and lifelong habits | Regular consumption of non-nutritious food during childhood can establish unhealthy dietary patterns that persist into adulthood, leading to long-term health consequences. |
| Decreased consumption of nutrient-dense foods | Non-nutritious food choices often replace nutrient-dense options, resulting in a reduced intake of essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre. |
| Emotional and psychological effects | Unhealthy food consumption can contribute to emotional issues like low self-esteem, poor body image, and negative relationships with food. |
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Insta Links:
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Do you think commercial advertisements need to be ethical? Comment.(250 words)
