[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":88},["ShallowReactive",2],{"pages-6867ea3c717647c78bf46fda":3},{"_id":4,"state":5,"name":6,"category":7,"theme":8,"components":9,"keywords":78},"6867ea3c717647c78bf46fda","active","Restrictions on advertising of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS)","discover","european_food_system_dashboard",[10,22,31,38,45,52,60],{"type":11,"index":12,"variation":13,"imageURL":14,"title":15,"description":17,"button":19},"header",0,"image_left","https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/8acbb2a1-7483-43c5-a3c4-5f587e5f3010",{"en_GB":16},"Ban on advertising of foods high in sugar, salt, and fat (HSSF)",{"en_GB":18},"- Food system activity: Retail & markets\n- Governance level: European\n- Cluster: Improve nutrition for better health\n- Origin: Poland\n- Type of policy intervention: Regulatory",{"label":20,"URL":21},{"en_GB":21},"",{"type":23,"index":24,"variation":25,"imageURL":26,"title":27,"description":29},"image_and_text",1,"image_right","https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/1c0aace6-2325-4a53-96d6-5d50235b85c7",{"en_GB":28},"Intervention Details",{"en_GB":30},"This intervention emerged from the Polish summit and seeks to introduce a legally binding restriction on the advertising and marketing of foods high in sugar, salt, and fat (HSSF), particularly those targeting children and adolescents. The ban would apply across media platforms and could include brand advertising where closely linked to HSSF products. The intervention is necessary as evidence consistently shows that exposure to advertising of unhealthy foods significantly influences children’s food preferences, purchase requests, and consumption patterns (Boyland & Whalen, 2015; Cairns et al., 2013). ",{"type":23,"index":32,"variation":13,"imageURL":33,"title":34,"description":36},2,"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/c32b40e5-d2c2-44bb-a1ed-0e0d2ba39795",{"en_GB":35},"Examples of implementation",{"en_GB":37},"Several EU member states have implemented or proposed restrictions on the advertising of HSSF foods for children. Some examples: France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Spain officially prohibit unhealthy food marketing at schools (Kovacs et al., 2020). In Hungary, the regulation is related to the Public Health Product Tax, with products subject to this tax not being allowed to be sold in educational institutions or at events organised for children and pupils outside educational institutions. Belgium, Italy, Ireland and the Netherlands rely on recommendations through voluntary standards (Kovacs et al., 2020). At the EU level, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) calls on Member States to implement national measures that reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing in audiovisual content, including digital media (European Commission, 2018). These efforts reflect the mostly voluntary nature of regulating HSSF marketing. An example of a more authoritative approach can be found in Norway’s 2024 total ban for all marketing of unhealthy food targeting children and youth until 18, across all media including social media platforms and influencer-marketing (CMS Law, 2024).",{"type":23,"index":39,"variation":25,"imageURL":40,"title":41,"description":43},3,"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/afec88ea-040b-4549-a51c-f75cc9a63be5",{"en_GB":42},"Key implementation challenges",{"en_GB":44},"This links to one of the key challenges for implementing this policy intervention, which is enforcement—particularly in digital contexts where algorithmic targeting and international platforms complicate monitoring and jurisdiction. Industry opposition is common, especially if bans threaten major revenue streams, which may weaken or delay legislative action (Lacy-Nichols & Marten, 2021). Moreover, brand marketing often remains outside of the scope of such HSSF bans, as do digital media, and the age limit is commonly set too low considering the WHO’s recommendation of protecting children up to 18 years old (WHO, 2023). Effectiveness therefore depends on comprehensive policy design—including inclusion of brand advertising, sponsorship, and digital content—and should be paired with complementary measures such as reformulation targets and public education. ",{"type":23,"index":46,"variation":13,"imageURL":47,"title":48,"description":50},4,"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/b466ae36-722e-4837-9540-cd11b3d71ab9",{"en_GB":49},"Expert Evaluation",{"en_GB":51},"Experts rated the effectiveness of this policy intervention at an average of 3.71/5.00 (SD = 1.08), indicating a positive assessment and ranking 4th highest. Survey respondents often justified this rating by arguing that the intervention would reduce exposure to unhealthy food marketing and shape consumers’ food aspirations and preferences towards healthier and more sustainable choices. Other arguments provided to support its effectiveness were positive equity impacts by protecting vulnerable groups and its capacity to promote upstream food system changes. Experts also rated the feasibility of this intervention highly, at an average of 3.97/5.00 (SD = 1.00), ranking 3rd overall. The reasons provided for this score included the existence of relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, low compliance costs, general public support and perceived ease of implementation. However, survey respondents disagreed regarding the impact that industry lobby resistance would have on the feasibility of the policy intervention. Experts recommended that this policy would synergize well with the policies “healthy and sustainable criteria in public food procurement” and “fiscal incentives for healthy foods”. ",{"type":53,"index":54,"variation":55,"imageURL":21,"title":56,"description":58},"title_and_text",5,"title_image_description",{"en_GB":57},"List of References",{"en_GB":59},"•\tBoyland, E. J., & Whalen, R. (2015). Food advertising to children and its effects on diet: Review of recent prevalence and impact data. Pediatric Diabetes, 16(5), 331–337. [https://doi.org/10.1111/pedi.12278](https://doi.org/10.1111/pedi.12278)\n\n•\tCairns, G., Angus, K., Hastings, G., & Caraher, M. (2013). Systematic reviews of the evidence on the nature, extent and effects of food marketing to children. A retrospective summary. Appetite. 2013 Mar;62:209-15. \n\n•\tCMS Law. (2024). Norway bans marketing of unhealthy food and drinks towards children. [https://cms.law/en/nor/publication/norway-bans-marketing-of-unhealthy-food-and-drinks-towards-children](https://cms.law/en/nor/publication/norway-bans-marketing-of-unhealthy-food-and-drinks-towards-children)\n\n•\tEuropean Commission. (2018). Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2018/1808/oj/eng](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2018/1808/oj/eng) \n\n•\tKovacs, V. A., Messing, S., Sandu, P., Nardone, P., Pizzi, E., Hassapidou, M., . . . Abu-Omar, K. (2020). Improving the food environment in kindergartens and schools: An overview of policies and policy opportunities in Europe. Food Policy, 96, 101848. \n\n•\tLacy-Nichols, J., & Marten, R. (2021). Power and the commercial determinants of health: Ideas for a research agenda. BMJ Global Health, 6(2), e003850. [https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003850](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003850)\n\n•\tWorld Health Organization (2023). Policies to protect children from the harmful impact of food marketing: WHO guideline. Geneva: World Health Organization. [https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/370113/9789240075412-eng.pdf?sequence=1](https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/370113/9789240075412-eng.pdf?sequence=1) ",{"type":61,"index":62,"variation":63,"title":64,"contact1":66,"contact2":72,"contact3":75},"contacts",6,"title_top",{"en_GB":65},"CONTACT",{"imageURL":67,"name":68,"description":70},"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/771281e8-fca5-4ec7-a45c-0addca312f67",{"en_GB":69},"Jeroen Candel",{"en_GB":71},"Associate professor of food and agricultural policy",{"imageURL":21,"name":73,"description":74},{"en_GB":21},{"en_GB":21},{"imageURL":21,"name":76,"description":77},{"en_GB":21},{"en_GB":21},[79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87],"retail","markets","european","improve nutrition for better health","nutrition","health","poland","regulatory","policy intervention",1776157871510]