The report updates three previous systematic reviews of the nature, extent and effects of food promotion to children The Hastings et al., 2003 review, undertaken for the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency (FSA), was the first ever systematic study of the effects of food promotion on children. The McDermott et al. 2004 systematic review was commissioned by (WHO) to broaden the evidence base and examine studies on the effects of food marketing to children in developing countries. Finally, the Hastings et al.

This document describes a review of the extent and nature of food promotion to children and its effects on their food knowledge, preferences and behaviour. The review was undertaken by the Institute for Social Marketing at Stirling, and the Open University, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on behalf of the World Health Organization in preparation for the WHO meeting of stakeholders on “Marketing food and non-alcoholic beverages to children” held in Oslo