Member Involvement
Africa
Burkina Faso - LCB (Ligue des Consommateurs du Burkina
Faso)
LCB sent out a press release and held a press conference.
Burundi - ABUCO (Consumers Association of Burundi -
Association Burundaise des Consommateurs)
ABUCO issued a press release on private and public
radio stations, as well as the national television.
Gabon - SOS Consommateurs
SOS Consommateurs published materials for circulation in
the journal Jeunnesse et Consommation to mark this year's
WCRD theme.
Gambia - CPAG (Consumer Protection Association of the
Gambia)
The Consumer Protection Association of Gambia issued a
press release on 10 of March 2008.
A media briefing was organised to commemorate this years WCRD
activity and involved:
- the National Nutrition Agency of Gambia
- schools
- media houses, and
- local and municipal authorities.
Mali - REDECOMA (Consumer Defence Group of Mali - Regroupement
pour la défense des consommateurs du Mali)
REDECOMA released a press release.
Nigeria - CPC (Consumer Protection Council)
The Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria kicked off this
year's WCRD activity on 14 March 2008 with a road show
in Abuja to raise awareness of the Junk Food Generation
theme.
This activity was organised in collaboration with the National
Youth Service Scheme and the staff of the CPC.
The youths organised themselves in the major markets and town
centres of Abuja to enlighten the public on WCRD and also on
the activities of the CPC. They received a lot of attention from
adults, as well as children.
The Director-General also spoke
to journalists about the rights of Nigerian consumers and
the issue of marketing unhealthy food to children.
On 18 March 2008 CPC organised an eventful seminar in
Lagos with the theme of Junk Food Generation.
Activities included:
- A welcome address by the Director-General who highlighted
the Junk Food Generation theme.
- An address by the Director-General of
the National Food and Drug Administration Control
(NAFDAC), who held the attention of the children invited
from four different secondary and primary schools in
Lagos.
- A paper presented by a professor from the Department of
Food Bioscience and a representative form the UAC Food Company of
Nigeria.
- The question and discussion session between the children and
the various speakers on junk food was the main highlight of the
event.
Attendees included:
- NGO organisations
- consumer associations
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- the First Lady of Lagos State
- education advisers and teachers
- media houses and journalists.
Nigeria - CPON (Consumer Protection Organisation of Nigeria)
The Consumer Protection Organisation of Nigeria based in Lagos
published a press release in the journal of their
umbrella partner ANCOMU, The Consumer Choice and paid
visits to media houses.
They also held a talk at the Airforce Secondary School for
students on dangers of junk food.
Seychelles - NATCOF (National Consumers Forum)
The National Consumers Forum (NATCOF) organised a lunchbox
challenge at two primary schools, La Rosierre and Bel
Eau on Mahe Island.
A total of 212 students between the ages of 9 to
10 years old participated in the event.
Activities started with a talk by a nutritionist from the
Nutrition Unit at the Ministry of Health.
NATCOF prepared a lunchbox for each student with tropical fruits
and vegetables (star fruits, guava, jamalac, pawpaw, etc… boil
cassava, sweet potatoes, tuna, and lettuce) and the students were
asked to remove all unhealthy foods in their lunchboxes from home
and replace it with nutritious food.
Articles were published in the local newspapers depicting the
WCRD theme and written in Creole. Another article in the
Seychelles Nation focused on healthy food for
children.
Small flags, billboards, posters and banners were printed and
designed for continuous marketing of the theme and for promoting
the work of the organisation. They were placed in key locations
around the town area.
A TV spot of 20 seconds was aired on Friday evening on the SBC
TV depicting the theme.
The main activity on the programme was the setting up of
information desks in town by the NATCOF Secretariat staff,
Executive Committee members, NATCOF members and volunteers from
where they distributed information leaflets, stickers
and bookmarks the WCRD theme, not only to promote
the theme but also in support of a local campaign to reduce obesity
amongst children and thus sensitising local consumers.
The Unit for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases within
the Ministry of Health was also invited to conduct risk factor
screening (checking the blood pressure etc) to the general
public.
Tunisia - ODC (Consumer Defence Organisation of Tunisia -
Organisation Tunisienne de la Défense du Consommateur)
ODC released a press release.
Uganda - CONSENT
CONSENT celebrated WCRD in Uganda with:
- a press release
- a lunchbox challenge held on 19 March, and
- a letter to the Minister of Health marked
WCRD highlighting the issue of marketing to children.
Americas
Argentina - Consumidores Argentinos
Consumidores Argentinos (CA) organised a lunchbox
challenge. Children between the ages of 6-14 years old had to
choose food for their ideal lunchbox from local products and
fast food.
Parents and experts on the topics of obesity and advertising, as
well as journalists attended the event. Representatives
from governmental and non-governmental organisations also observed
the event.
Argentina - Proconsumer
Proconsumer announced its commitment to the CI global campaign
to stop the marketing of unhealthy food to children in a press
statement.
Bolivia - CODEDCO (Comité de Defensa de los Derechos del
Consumidor)
CODEDCO issues a press release and disseminated CI campaign
materials.
They also wrote a letter the Health Minister of Bolovia and
conducted lunchbox challenges in schools.
Brazil - IDEC (Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor)
IDEC marked WCRD 2008 with the launch of its campaign
'Mude o consumo para no mudar o clima' (Change your consumption
to stop climate change) with street demonstrations and a microsite
on the subject.
Letters promoting the CI Code were sent to the Brazilian
President, Minister of Health and the Food and Health
regulatory authority.
Canada - L'Union des consommateurs
L'Union des consommateurs realeased a press release outlining
the activities they undertook for WCRD.
Chile - Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios (Odecu)
The Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios (Odecu) hosted a
media breakfast where they launched CI's global campaign to
stop the marketing of unhealthy food to children and also
highlighted the work they have done in this area, ie testing cereal
and flavoured milk during the past two years.
They also promoted the bill on a traffic light labelling
system for food and advertising to children, which is currently
being discussed in the Chilean Parliament.
They further announced that their next study will focus
on:
- food for children under 2 years old
- laboratory cereal tests at Latin American level, and
- the creation of an Observatory focusing on advertising to
children.
Chile - CI Santiago
CI Santiago also attended Odecu's media breakfast,
together with the National Consumer Service (Sernac), as well
a government agency.
They will also disseminate the Code on Marketing of
Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages to Children at the Summit of
Nutrition and Health - Chile 2008, convened by the Ministry of
Health and the Health Commission of the Senate (Valparaiso, 24-25
March 2008).
Dominican Republic - Fundecom
The first of Fundación por los Derechos del Consumidor
(Fundecom) lunchbox challenges were held at La Salle College in
Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic.
Teachers, the Parents Association and 15 children took part in
the activities.
The second lunchbox challenge took place at the San
Juan Bautista School in the city of Santiago de los Caballeros.
Fundecom also released the Code on Marketing of Food and
Non-alcoholic Beverages to Children at a press conference and
in a television programme that featured Altagracia
Paulino, the president of Fundecom.
Dominican Republic - Instituto Proconsumidor
The Instituto Nacional de Protección de los Derechos del
Consumidor (Instituto Proconsumidor) held a lunchbox challenge
at Don Bosco College, Santo Domingo, with a group of children
who had to choose between healthy food and the junk food usually
promoted to children.
Mexico - EPC (El Poder del Consumidor)
EPC launched a guide on the quality of foods marketed to
children in Mexico, also examing a food labelling system
proposed by the Food Standards Agency in the UK.
They also held a press conference on the impact of advertising
on children's eating habits in Mexico and presented the CI Code to
the public.
Nicaragua - LIDECONIC
LIDECONIC organised lunchbox challenges and media
interviews in seven schools in Managua, the capital of
Nicaragua.
Panama - IPADECU (Panamean Institute of Consumer and User
Rights)
IPADECU held a collaborative press conference with 7
other consumer organisations to mark WCRD 2008. The
conference addressed the major problems currently facing consumers
in Panama, as well as the CI global campaign to end the marketing
of unhealthy food to children.
A press statement was released and the CI Code disseminated to
relevant parties.
Uruguay - Consumidores y Usuarios Asociados (CUA)
Consumidores y Usuarios Asociados (CUA), together with the
consumer government agency, held a lunchbox challenge
with 40 students from the República de Chile School.
After choosing and eating a variety of foods, the children
filled in a questionnaire - questions ranged
from what they usually eat for lunch, the number of
times they eat fast food during the week to whether
they remember any advertising of food.
Europe
Armenia - PCR (Protection of Consumer Rights)
PCR organised a press conference to talk about the Junk Food
Generation campaign and received media coverage on 8 TV
stations, 3 radio channels and in more than 10 newspapers.
Belarus - BZOP
BZOP were the first CI member to get a request from their
Ministry of Health to see the CI Code after a programme on
nutrition was broadcast on national television and a press
conference held on 13 March 2008.
Croatia - CACP (Croatian Association for Consumer
Protection)
CACP issued a press release which was published in all relevant
daily newspapers.
With the support of the Ministry of Science and Education,
discussions on healthy food and consumer rights were
organised in all elementary and high schools.
Croatia - POTROŠAC (Croatian Union of Consumer Protection
Organisations)
Protosac sent an open letter explaining the campaign to
ministers and the media, who covered the issue extensively. A full
TV programme on the issue of marketing of unhealthy food to
children was broadcast.
Denmark -Forbrugerradet
Forbrugerradet held a lunchbox challenge and are encouraging
schools to do more in educating children about unhealthy food.
They undertook a lot of media activity, achieving
widespread coverage in national newspapers and television and were
keen to stress their disappointment with the Danish government who
have been holding back action at the WHO.
Greece - KEKPA
KEPKA circulated press releases and secured coverage in a number
of newspapers.
Hungary - NACPH (National Association for Consumer Protection
in Hungary)
NACPH organised successful lunchbox challenges in Budapest
and Zalaegerszeg. Media interest of the events was widespread,
including interviews on primetime TV and radio shows
and coverage in all major TV channels, news
agencies, newspapers and radio stations.
Letters about CI's proposal for an international code on
the marketing of food to children were sent to the Prime Minister,
Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Education and Culture.
Italy - Altoconsumo
Altoconsumo published an article on childhood obesity and the
need for an international code on marketing food to children. They
also issued a press release.
Israel - ICC (Israel Consumer Council)
ICC conducted a survey on the marketing of unhealthy food
to children. The results clearly demonstrated the connection
between exposure to unhealthy food ads and the demand for these
products by children aged 10 to 16, and recieved wide coverage on
TV, radio and newspapers.
Another survey, this time on food products being sold to
children in school canteens, revealed that most of this
food was not only fattening, but also forbidden by
the Ministry of Education.
Lunchbox challenges were also held in 15 schools, involving 2000
kids.
A bill limiting the marketing of unhealthy food to
children has been put before the Israeli parliament.
Portugal - Deco (Portuguese Association for Consumer
Protection - Associaçáo Portugesa para a Defesa do Consumidor)
Deco distributed 5,000 leaflets and handed out fruit in eight
cities around the country.
Russian Federation - Konfop (Interrepublican Confederation of
Consumer Societies
Konfop's campaign action led to Russia's Chief Sanitary Doctor
fully supporting campaign and calling for restrictions on the
advertising of unhealthy food to children.
Spain - ASGECO (Associación General de Consumidores)
ASGECO issued a press release on consumer
queries statistics for 2007 and Junkfood Generation.
Spain - CECU (Confederation of Consumers and Users)
CECU issued a press release.
Spain - FACUA (Association of Consumers and Users in
Action)
FACUA launched new research on the excessive levels of sugar in
breakfast cereals and grabbed the media's attention to highlight
the Junk Food Generation campaign.
UK - NCC (National Consumer Council)
NCC sent out a press release quoting their Director of Policy,
Jill Johnstone:
"Childhood obesity is growing at a disturbing rate, which is
why consumers, government and businesses need to adopt a
responsible approach to address the problem.
Curbing the marketing of junk food, as well as promoting the
benefits of a healthier diet and physical activity, would make a
significant impact on child health."
Ukraine - DSSU (Ukraine State Committee for Technical
Regulation and Consumer Policy)
DSSU placed detailed information on the consumption of unhealthy
foods by children on their website http://www.consumerinfo.org.ua/
South East Asia
Bangladesh - CAB (Consumers Association of Bangladesh)
CAB held a lunchbox challenge and distributed posters, flyers
and stcikers on the Junk Food Generation campaign theme.
India - CPC (Consumer Protection Council Ahmedabad)
CPC held street performances, distributed information leaflets
and held a lunchbox challenge.
India - CERS (Consumer Education and Research Society)
CERS released the results of a study on Exploring eating
habits of children. They also released a press release.
India - CDCPO (Cuddalore District Consumer Protection
Organisation)
CDCPO held a conference in November 2007, a lunchbox challenge
and had an article published in the Deccan Chronicle.
India - MGP (Mumbai Grahak Panchayat (MGP) - Bombay Consumer
Forum)
MGP held a lunchbox challenge, compiled a notebook featuring an
obese child and sent out a health message.
India - CAI (Consumers Association of India)
CAI held a lunchbox challenge in 85 schools in Chennai. Children
were requested to pack their own lunchbox items provided that
included healthy and unhealthy foods. The children were also asked
to answer a questionnaire designed to find out their eating
habits.
India - Consumers Forum
The Consumers Forum held a lunchbox challenge. Watch the lunchbox challenge.
They also distributed printed posters of the Junk Food
Generation campaign.
India - ACASH (Association for Consumers Action on Safety and
Health)
ACASH held a lunchbox challenge and a training session on
consumer awareness and the Junk Food Generation campaign.
India - CGSI (Consumer Guidance Society of India)
CGSI carried out a 'tiffin box' survey and inspected the tiffin
boxes (lunchboxes) of over 2,000 school children and students
in Mumbai.
India - CUTS
CUTS held a lunchbox challenge and received wide media
coverage.
India - CAG (Citizen, Consumer and Civic Action Group)
CAG conducted two surveys - one advertisements shown during
children's hours and the other on marketing and promotion in
school canteens.
Pakistan - The Network of Consumer Protection
The Network of Consumer Protection in Pakistan held a press
conference and the issue of marketing food to children received
press coverage for several days.
A numer of civil society organisations have called upon the
Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority to draw up advertising
guidelines.
Singapore - CASE (Consumers Association of Singapore)
CASE organised their annual event Walk with CASE to coincide
with WCRD and promoted the Junk Food Generation campaign whilst
handing out goodie bags containing healthy lunchbox food items.
Thailand - FFC (Foundation for Consumers)
FFC organised a conference on marketing food to children in
February 2008 and issued a press release.
Vietnam - VINASTAS (Vietnam Standard and Consumers
Association)
VINASTAS held a lunchbox challenge and a press conference after
the event. They distributed the results of the challenge to their
member associations in 30 provinces and cities throughout
Vietnam.
Western Pacific
Australia - CHOICE
CHOICE compiled a storybook of Australians sharing their views
on junk food marketing to children. Read the stories.
China - Consumer Council of Hong Kong
The Consumer Council of Hong Kong wrote a letter to the Food and
Health Bureau, and held a lunchbox challenge. Watch the lunchbox challenge.
China - CCM (Macau Consumer Council - Conselho de Consumidores
de Macao)
CCM distributed printed posters and leaflets about healthy food
and junk food.
Fiji - Consumer Council of Fiji
The Consumer Council of Fiji held a lunchbox challenge and
celebrated WCRD at the Suva Muslim Womens League Hall
with the focus on Junk Food Generation advertising and
marketing of unhealthy food to children in Fiji.
The event received extensive media coverage with a three-page
newspaper supplement.
Indonesia - YLKI (Consumers Association from Indonesia)
YLKI distributed leaflets and posters.
Malaysia - FOMCA (Federation of Malaysian Consumers
Associations)
FOMCA held a lunchbox challenge, a press conference and an
exhibition of highly preferred unhealthy lunchbox food items.
New Zealand - Consumer New Zealand
Consumer New Zealand launched a free interactive lunchbox. The interactive
lunchbox lets parents compare the nutritional value of some common
lunchbox snacks.
Philippines - IBON
IBON organised a series of consumer education lectures on food
marketing to children. The lectures included a presentation on the
facts of marketing and obesity in the Philippines and around the
world.
They also held a lunchbox challenge.
South Korea - Consumers Korea
Consumers Korea carried out a lunchbox challenge and found that
most children favoured unhealthy food.