OVERVIEW OF MARKETING OF UNHEALTHY FOODS AND NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO CHILDREN IN THE CARIBBEAN

Maisha Hutton, Executive Director HCC PAHO NCDs and Law Meeting I March 4, 2020

HCC CSAP POLICY ASKS

HCC URGENT CALL TO ACTION

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

• Marketing of unhealthy commodities (esp foods and beverages) to children and adolescents largely unregulated in the Caribbean

• Violation of CRC - all CARICOM MS are signatories• Marketing regulation to children in and outside of school settings

HCC CSAP priority• Challenging area due to cross border marketing hence decision to

focus on school settings • Needed evidence to illustrate scope of the problem to policymakers• Limited resources at the outset so decision taken to develop

regional Food and Beverage Industry Monitor

HCC FBI INDUSTRY INTERFERENCE MONITOR

Builds on a 2018 mapping of the food and beverageindustry in the Caribbean which:

– Identified industry actors and their mainprocessed and ultra-processed products

– Identified instances of industry engaging inactivity to influence policy and public opinioncaptured on social media and companywebsites

– Marketing to children tracked

THE DATABASEScope: Limited to activities around sweet beverages (SBs)Update of database focuses on the online activities of:

– Key regional SB manufacturers and distributors –with a focus on Barbados and Jamaica

– Limited fast food restaurants – e.g. Chefette, KFC, Burger King

Industry activities being mapped:– Activities that may directly or indirectly influence

development of policy or public opinion– Instances of marketing to children

1. Banning the sale and marketing of sweet beverages in school settings

2. Taxation of sweet beverages of at least 20%

3. Mandatory front of package nutrition warning labels

Policy Areas of Interest

METHODS• All data captured online in the public

domain directly from corporate websites, news outlets and via social media

• Google alerts - monitor the online activity of key industry actors producing, selling and distributors of SSBs identified from the 2018 mapping.

• Monitoring of social media activity of a subset of prominent regional beverage industry actors and their subsidiaries manufacturing and distributing SSBs –Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Targeted companies include prominent regional SSB industry actors and their subsidiaries:

• Nestle Caribbean• GraceKennedy Limited• Wisynco Group• Seprod• Coca-Cola Caribbean• Pepsi Caribbean• Barbados Dairy Industries Ltd. –

Pinehill Dairy• SM Jaleel and Co. • + Major fast food restaurants

(Barbados and Jamaica)

OUTPUTS • Database updated and shared

with HSFB and HFJ teams monthly – with interference or marketing categorised and links to examples

• Quarterly newsletter in development showcasing examples of interference and marketing to children mainly in Barbados and Jamaica

EXAMPLES OF MARKETING OF

SWEET BEVERAGES TO CHILDREN

MARKETING SSBS TO CHILDREN

MARKETING TO

CHILDREN ON SCHOOL

PREMISES

MARKETING TO CHILDREN ON SCHOOL

PREMISES

MARKETING TO CHILDREN AT SCHOOL RELATED EVENTS

GENERAL MARKETING TO CHILDREN

GENERAL MARKETING TO CHILDREN

“ON THE GROUND” EXAMPLES

CHALLENGES• Limited data on the scope and scale of marketing of unhealthy foods and

beverages to children and adolescents in various settings• Lack of public and policymaker support for regulating the marketing of

these products (in schools or otherwise)• Limited resources leading to heavy financial reliance on FBI sponsorship in

school settings• Absence of conflict of interest guidance for public sector actors around

engaging with the FBI leading to the establishment of relationships (contracts/ MOUs) which provide access to school settings for the marketing and sale of these products

• Limited public sector capacity to regulate various types of marketing including in school settings

WHAT CAN BE DONE?• Create the evidence - advocate for research and continue to monitor the

industry• Build support

– Showcase egregious forms of marketing using rights-based language– Develop compelling policymaker comm. materials to make the case for regulation– Identify and cultivate champions including children and young people

• Alternative Funding - encourage MoEs to identify alternative funding sources / encourage health-friendly private sector to support under resourced schools

• Manage/mitigate Conflict of Interest - Hold MoE/public sector accountable for MOUs/contracts with FBI

• Build on regional policy momentum - Leverage growing momentum for regulation on sweet beverages in schools to push for joint policies banning sale AND marketing on school premises and at school events

THANK YOU