Public Policies to Restrict Food Marketing to Children in Latin America: Progress and Challenges

Despite evidence showcasing the exploitation of children's vulnerability by the food industry through such marketing, only a few countries globally have regulated unhealthy food marketing. This study aims to assess the progress, challenges, and lessons learned in implementing policies restricting unhealthy food marketing to children in Latin America and the Caribbean. Using qualitative methods, including a literature review, online surveys, country selection based on regulatory standards, and in-depth interviews, the study focuses on five front-runner countries: Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay. Results reveal varying degrees of child protection across these countries, with challenges related to technical, financial, and industry interference. Monitoring and evaluation efforts are limited, except in Chile. Recommendations include avoiding conflicts of interest, promoting cooperation between sectors, ensuring autonomy of health ministries, regulating social media marketing, imposing strong penalties, and allocating specific budgets for policy phases. In conclusion, while progress is evident in Latin American and the Caribbean, there is a need for strengthening the implementation and especially the regulatory frameworks, responsive monitoring, and evaluation processes, emphasizing health over commercial interests to improve food environments and safeguard public health.