Food and beverage marketing directed at youth in 11 Latin American countries: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND

There is evidence of the influence of marketing of unhealthy food over youth' preferences, purchasing behaviors, and diets.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a scoping review of the marketing of food and beverages directed at youth in eleven countries in Latin America.

METHODS

The scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews. The information was collected from indexed articles in MEDLINE/PubMed, LILACS, SCIELO, BVS, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, published from 2013 to 2023.

RESULTS

We found 54 articles that characterized the marketing directed at children in Latin America. Television was the most studied promotional channel (n = 20), followed by product packaging (n = 19), while the most common setting was schools(n = 6) and retail (n = 6). The main persuasive marketing strategies employed included licensed characters (cartoons, brand mascots, trademarks, personified objects), followed by nutritional, health or promotional claims; the use of letters or graphics appealing to children; and the adoption of popular songs. The principal food and beverage category promoted was sugar-sweetened beverages, followed by confectionery and breakfast cereals; approximately 60% of the advertised food and beverages were classified as unhealthy, and a high proportion were ultra-processed (61-100%).

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review synthesizes and updates evidence from the past 10 years. It identifies regional patterns and regulatory gaps, highlighting the need for comprehensive restrictions across television, packaging, and settings where youth gather, along with stronger enforcement to protect their right to nutrition. Findings can inform policy actions to improve food environments and prevent diet-related diseases.