Curbing Childhood Obesity

Taiwan's ban on the Marketing of Junk Food

Résumé

Childhood obesity in Taiwan, as in Canada and many other countries, has been steadily increasing in recent years (1,2). To address this problem, Taiwan’s Ministry of Health banned the marketing of junk food on television to children in January 2016. This paper examines the implementation of Taiwan’s law, and offers observations on the food industry’s response to the law. Three distinct behaviors of the food industry in Taiwan were observed. First, in May 2016, fast-food corporations marketed few food groups. Second, McDonald’s adapted their marketing strategy. Third, McDon- alds improved the nutritional content of the Happy Meal.