NDP pushes to ban food and beverage marketing to children

The Canadian Cancer Society has thrown its support behind an NDP plan to prevent the marketing of foods and beverages to children across Canada.

“This is a step in the right direction to help Canadians make healthier choices and reduce the risk of cancer,” said Gabriel Miller, the Canadian Cancer Society's director of public issues, in a press release. “Parents are struggling to get their kids to eat right, and it's not easy when ads selling junk food are targeting children every hour of every day.”

Evidence shows that the foods and beverages marketed to kids are primarily unhealthy, including foods high in sugar, salt and fat, and that unhealthy foods contribute to rising obesity rates, says the Canadian Cancer Society. Obesity increases risk for breast, colorectal, esophageal, gallbladder, kidney, liver, pancreatic and uterine cancers.

About half of all cancers can be prevented through healthy living and policies that protect the health of Canadians.