Senator Bong Go (Senate PRIB)

The chairman of the Senate Health and Demography Committee has urged the Department of Health (DOH )and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to closely monitor advertising campaigns that promote food containing high levels of saturated fatty acids, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, and salt.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go made the call following a recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO) for governments worldwide to enact stringent policies to protect children from advertisements that significantly impact their dietary choices. 

"We are seeing an alarming rise in diet-related diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, and obesity, particularly in our youth. There is a critical need to regulate the aggressive marketing of food and beverages that have been proven to negatively influence the dietary norms among children," Go said referring to HFSS food that are "High in Fat, Salt and Sugar", such as junk food.

Go expressed his concern about specific marketing techniques targeting children and reckoned that it was "time we put a stronger emphasis on the health of our children and regulate the type of food being marketed to them".

"The government must categorize and determine which food products should be limited in their marketing. This will enable us to effectively regulate advertisements on various media platforms," suggested Go.

According to WHO, food advertisements have an adverse effect on the development of children's norms about food consumption.

"Calls to responsible marketing practices have not had a meaningful impact. Governments should establish strong and comprehensive regulations,” Francesco Branca, director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety of WHO, said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Go hopes that his appeal would push for the reinforcement of such policies and lead to healthier consumption habits among the youth. 

He urged the public to remain vigilant about the food they consume and encourages everyone to participate in the campaign against unhealthy food marketing. 

"Let us all work together towards a healthier Philippines. Our future depends on it," Go said.