Monitoring child and teen exposure to food and beverage advertising: About
On this page:
Impacts of food advertising on children and teens
Children and teens are vulnerable to advertising. Food and beverage advertising influences their:
- overall health
- food attitudes
- food preferences
- purchase requests
- consumption patterns
Most of the food and beverage ads that children and teens are exposed to are for products that contain excess sodium, sugars or saturated fat. Research shows that diets containing too much of these nutrients are linked to a higher risk of:
- diabetes
- dental decay
- high blood pressure
- cardiovascular disease
- overweight and obesity
People living with obesity and chronic diseases are also more vulnerable to severe outcomes from infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
How widespread it is
The places where children and teens live, learn and play are critical to their health now and in the future. Children and teens are exposed to thousands of food advertisements every year. Food is advertised in settings such as:
- stores
- schools
- restaurants
- public transit
- recreation centres
- television and online
Child and teen exposure to food advertising has expanded with television and digital media. Children and teens are more connected than ever, and screen time has increased over the years. The fact that many children and teens have their own devices makes it easier to target ads at them.
What we're doing
Through Canada’s food guide we recommend limiting child and teen exposure to food advertising and give tips on how to do so.
Related resources
- Be aware of food marketing
- Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Federal, Provincial and Territorial Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights
- Obesity in Canada: Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
- Child Health Protection Act (Bill C-252) to amend the Food and Drugs Act (prohibition of food and beverage marketing directed at children)
Past consultations
- Consultation: Restricting food advertising primarily directed at children [2023-04-25]
- Consultation on restricting unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children [2017-06-10]