UNICEF urges national action on unhealthy food marketing

1 of 2

UNICEF has welcomed reforms in Pasig City and Cebu that promote healthier food choices for children while calling for stronger national policies to restrict unhealthy food marketing.

Pasig City passed an ordinance this year banning junk food marketing near schools and prohibiting sponsorships from companies selling products that fail to meet children’s nutrition standards.

In Cebu, redesigned municipal markets prioritize visibility and affordability of nutritious staples such as rice, vegetables, and fresh produce, with vendors placed in clearly marked stalls and prices posted prominently.

UNICEF said these measures show how local governments can shift food environments to support healthier decisions by children and families.

According to UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Report 2025, obesity has overtaken underweight as the most common form of malnutrition among school-aged children worldwide.

In the Philippines, one in ten children aged 6 to 23 months is already overweight, a trend driven by early exposure to ultra-processed and high-sugar foods.

A national review of baby food, cereals, and toddler snacks found many marketed as “nutritious” but containing excessive sugar and salt.

Nearly all food ads targeting Filipino children online promote products high in sugar, salt, or saturated fats, shaping diets long before children learn to read.

A World Health Organization study found that 99 percent of food ads children encounter globally market unhealthy products, often using celebrities, influencers, or cartoon characters.

Children in the Philippines are exposed daily to dozens of such ads across television, digital platforms, and billboards near schools.

UNICEF is working with the Department of Health and Food and Drug Administration to strengthen product standards, labeling rules, and marketing regulations for children’s foods.

At the regional level, UNICEF supports the Consortium for Improving Complementary Foods in Southeast Asia to raise the safety and quality of toddler and infant foods.

Unlike breastmilk substitutes regulated under the Philippine Milk Code, complementary foods for older infants and toddlers lack clear standards, leaving a major policy gap.

Through its Fix My Food dialogues in 18 countries, UNICEF found young people are calling for action on affordability, food availability, and aggressive marketing practices.

“Every child has the right to nutritious food. But they are denied this right in an environment where unhealthy products are aggressively marketed and are more visible than healthy food choices,” said Alice Nkoroi, UNICEF Philippines Nutrition Manager.

“The evidence is overwhelming, the solutions are known, but we must act bolder and faster,” she added.

“If current trends continue, more children will grow up with obesity and diet-related diseases. Reforms in Pasig and Cebu show that we can reverse this trend. Now we need national reforms that put children’s health first and hold food companies accountable.”

UNICEF noted that 80 percent of food and beverage companies still lack policies restricting unhealthy food marketing to children.

The organization is urging companies to prioritize children’s health over profit and calling on leaders to adopt reforms that regulate harmful marketing, strengthen labeling, and build healthier food environments.

For more information, UNICEF directed the public to visit www.unicef.ph.