Changes to the health messages required to accompany advertisements for certain foods and beverages, and recommendations regarding the regulation of marketing of high-fat, high-sugar, and high-sodium products targeted at children. Response to the referral from the Directorate General for Health (DGS) dated October 2, 2018

The general population, and young people in particular, are exposed to an obesogenic environment characterized by strong and repeated incentives to consume; measures designed to encourage healthy eating behaviors must be complemented by a range of other measures aimed at reducing the influence of the obesogenic environment; The impact of food marketing on the dietary preferences, behaviors, and consumption patterns of children and adolescents is well-established and recognized by the majority of experts in France and internationally; There is therefore a clear national and international consensus on the need to effectively regulate children’s exposure to marketing for unhealthy food products; In France, the scale of food marketing for fatty, sugary, and salty products targeting children remains high, particularly on television, despite the food industry’s commitments to self-regulation and the ban on advertising during children’s programs on public broadcasters; The increase in time spent online by children and adolescents suggests a much greater exposure to advertisements for high-fat, high-sugar, and high-sodium products, although it is not yet possible to measure this exposure. Santé publique France recommends limiting commercial communications for products classified as D and E according to the Nutri-Score, as well as communications for brands associated with these products, on television and the Internet during the time slots most frequently watched by children. These two media account for 80 to 90% of food advertising spending; In addition to these priority measures, Santé publique France proposes that the health messaging system be adapted so that it can fully fulfill its role as a behavioral incentive by separating health messages from the advertisements themselves.

Author(s): Serry Anne-Juliette, Escalon Hélène, Friant-Perrot Marine

Publishing year: 2020

Pages: 18 p.

Collection: Studies and Surveys

In relation to

Our latest news

news

2026 “Sexual Behavior” Survey (ERAS) for men who have sex with men

news

Hervé Maisonneuve has been appointed scientific integrity officer for a...

Visuel illustratif

news

Public Health France 2026 Barometer: Launch of the Survey