Report urges Ontario ban on marketing junk food to kids

Recommendations aimed at reducing childhood obesity rates

The Canadian Press     Posted: Mar 4, 2013


The Ontario government is recommending that all restaurants, including those which serve fast food, list the calories of each item on their menu. This is one of the recommendations in a new report released Monday which aims to reduce childhood obesity. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)

A new report is urging the Ontario government to ban the marketing of junk food to kids under the age of 12.

It's also urging a ban on promotions and displays of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods at the cash in stores, starting with sugary drinks.

It wants restaurants, including fast-food and grocery stores, to list the calories of each item on their menu.

It's just a few of the many recommendations in the report focusing on reducing childhood obesity.

The government says it will create a group headed by Health Minister Deb Matthews to give direction on how to implement the recommendations.

The government says in 2004, 27.5 per cent of Ontario kids between the ages of 2 and 17 were overweight or obese.


The Canadian Press         source: CBC

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