Food and Soft Drink advertisers have grown used to being under the media and political microscope. This working Group of ISBA members, from the sector, meets to define policy.
We bring the advertising expertise to the wider sectoral table. We meet when issues demand a specifically advertiser response or input to wider issues. For example it is this group that brokered the CAP and BCAP code changes in 2005.
We work closely with the UK Food & Drink Federation and the British Soft Drinks Association whose expertise in the packaging, wider marketing and food production areas complements ISBA. Within the advertising industry we also work closely with the Food Advertising Unit, based at the Advertising Association, and the Responsible Advertising to Children group based in Brussels at the WFA.
Defining our role
Food and drink advertising comprises a significant proportion of the input to the debates about advertising and children. Yet the issues are not the same. The children issues are discussed on another page here and the food issues here.
Nor are the issues the same as discussing the role of advertising in the growth of obesity and general increase in the weight of adults and children. There are significant issues surrounding food and drink advertising that are specific to the nature of the food and drink we consume and consumers needs to be accurately informed. Advertising aims to do that through our rigorous UK self regulation system.
How we work
The group comes together to meet specific needs rather than hold regular meetings. We do email briefing and requests for input to ISBA policy on food and drink advertising.