Ever felt like ads for soft drinks, snacks or fast food are following you around? You’re not imagining it.
UNICEF’s new report “Feeding Profit”
looks at how the world around us—like what’s sold in stores, advertised
online or served at school—is making it harder for children and teens
to eat healthy. It shows how these unhealthy food environments are
linked to the rise in overweight and obesity and breaks down the
powerful forces behind them.
For this, a global poll by UNICEF’s U-Report in
2024 asked over 64,000 young people (aged 13–24) in 171 countries about
food ads—and the results are eye-opening. From countries in conflicts to
big cities, from high-income countries to low-income communities, the
message is the same: food marketing is everywhere.
The report found that junk food and sugary
drinks—especially ultra-processed stuff—are also everywhere. They are
cheap, easy to get and pushed hard through ads, especially in places
where children and teens live, study and hang out. Some big food
companies even try to stop laws that would make our food environments
healthier. Let’s see how these ad strategies work
How many young people are seeing food ads?
Three out of four respondents (75%) said they saw
ads for sugary drinks, fast food, or snacks just in the past week. Even
in countries facing conflict, like Ukraine, Iraq, and Lebanon, more than
80% of youth reported seeing these ads.
The country’s wealth didn’t make a huge difference either—90% in
upper-middle income countries saw food ads and 65% in low-income
countries did too. Even in conflict-affected areas, exposure was 68%. No
place is really ad-free.
Where are these ads showing up?
Not surprisingly, the battlefield is digital.
Around 50% of respondents said they saw ads on social media or the
internet in general, but 43% still saw them on TV. Whether you're
scrolling Instagram, watching YouTube, or gaming online—ads are right
there with us.
Celebs and influencers: A marketing power combo?
The poll also found that celebrity and influencer
endorsements are a big part of food marketing, especially in
middle-income countries. About 1 in 3 young people saw celebs or
influencers promoting food or drink products in the past week. Think
about your favourite sports star sipping an energy drink or that
lifestyle influencer munching on chips mid-vlog… It’s all part of the
strategy.
But do these ads really work?
Short answer? Yes. 60% of young people said these
ads made them want to try the products—at least sometimes. That includes
38% who said “sometimes”, 12% who said “often” and 11% who said
“always”. This shows that marketing isn’t just everywhere—it’s actually
shaping what we eat and drink.
Why does this matter?
Because what we eat affects how we feel, how we
grow, and how healthy we are—now and in the future. And when marketing
is this strong, it can push us toward choices that aren’t always the
best for our bodies or our planet.
Young people are speaking up
With the right leadership, governments can step in
and create strong rules to protect our right to healthy food. Children
and young people are taking action and you can also do it by advocating
for policy change to transform food environments and make nutritious and
healthy choices accessible and affordable.
This U-Report poll is a reminder that your voice
matters. When you speak up about the things that affect your
life—whether it’s food, education, health or climate change—leaders and
decision-makers take note. So join U-Report, UNICEF’s community for
young people, by young people, today. You can respond to polls, get info
and learn how to action in your community.
To learn how you can advocate for a healthier food environment, visit the Fix My Food! website.
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