Politicians must protect children from junk food marketing.

The Irish Heart Foundation is asking politicians to sign a political pledge to take action to expedite the Public Health (Obesity) Bill that was promised in the 2020 Programme for Government.

Only the State can effectively protect children’s health through national policies, safeguarding them from a proliferation of cheap and intensely marketed junk food that is blighting their lives.

This bill is urgently needed as in Ireland today, at least 1 in 5 children live with overweight or obesity, while the state’s own research has shown that 1 in 20 children on the island of Ireland will die prematurely due to the long term effects of overweight or obesity. We are now seeing children as young as six presenting with high-blood pressure.

The Irish Heart Foundation wants the Government to take three actions to protect children in Ireland from junk food marketing:

• Ban all online marketing of junk food and drinks
• Extend the broadcast  watershed for junk food ads to 9pm
• Remove junk food ads from State-owned transport, buildings and other public infrastructure.

By completing the form below, you pledge to advance a Bill with these measures and agree to be kept informed by our advocacy team of the campaign.

For more information, reach out to our Advocacy Officer, Mark Murphy on mmurphy@irishheart.ie.