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August 2004

The Food Advertising Unit (FAU) represents the food advertising industry in the UK: manufacturers, media, and agencies are all part of FAU membership. The FAU believes that food advertising and health is an important debate, in which the advertising industry can make a positive contribution in the interests of society as a whole. The FAU is supportive of efforts to address issues relating to diet, physical activity and health and our members are committed to playing a positive role.

It is also the case that food marketing is not the fundamental driver of diet quality or overall health of society. Many factors are involved in the process of becoming overweight, including levels of physical activity, and therefore the problem is one which demands a holistic rather than piecemeal solution (see also briefing paper on advertising and diet).

This briefing paper indicates that the FAU can be part of the solution on diet-related problems by:

• Encouraging the regular review of food and soft drink advertising codes to ensure that they reflect current consumer attitudes.
• Promoting media literacy programmes and educational campaigns such as Media Smart.
• Working together with other stakeholders, including national governments, international organisations and health authorities, and using resources and skills to engender positive behavioural change

More on the role of the industry

• Regulations on advertising
• Media-literacy
• Proactive campaigns

More briefing papers

• Advertising to children
• Advertising and diet
• International comparison on advertising food to children
• The Regulatory Framework for children's advertising
• What parents and adults think about advertising to children

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