Our global approach

Our marketing to children policy is global and applies to every market where we do business. In general, we:

• Do not advertise in any media primarily directed to children under the age of 12
• Direct our advertising to gatekeepers (adults, parents, guardians), as well as people over age 12, who we empower with information and product choices to make mindful snacking decisions.
• Prohibit all marketing activities and techniques, including promotions, use of licensed characters, and premiums that appeal to children under age 6 (pre-school children).
• Prohibit all advertising and any type of commercial messaging and in-school marketing in primary and secondary schools (prior to university level).

Elements of our global policy

Below are the main elements of our policy that guide our efforts:

• Prohibit any advertising where 35% or more of the total viewing audience is under the age of 12. Where audience data is not available, we use best judgment to avoid programs, websites, publications, and digital platforms that are geared for or have high appeal to children under age 12.
• Advertising in the following media is covered: TV, print, radio, our own brand websites, as well as third-party websites, digital and mobile media, social media, outdoor, smart phone/tablet apps, advergaming, word of mouth, DVD/video, gaming systems and in-cinema.
• Online/digital games and downloads will aim to have age gating/screening. Games and downloads will be geared to gatekeepers/persons over age 12.
• Prohibit all in-school marketing of our products in pre-school, primary and secondary schools (prior to university level).
• Do not permit any branded communication in schools, including branded educational materials or equipment – irrespective if schools request/permit it or if industry voluntary pledges we are a member of allow it.
• Do not use licensed characters or enter tie-ins with movies that primarily appeal to children under age 6, regardless of the product’s nutritional profile, in all marketing activities, including use on packaging and in-store communications.
• All of communications on packaging and on in-store materials are directed to the gatekeeper/adults.

Our food marketing standards

In addition to our marketing to children policy, our Food Marketing Standards provide further guidance. These standards are consistent with and support the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Code of Advertising and Marketing Communication Practice and the ICC Framework for Responsible Food and Beverage Communications. These standards ensure consistent, responsible depiction of food and lifestyle choices by:

• Showing proper serving and portion sizes, as well as consumption, in photography and imagery;
• Displaying nutrition information and serving sizes in recipes;
• Portraying active and safe lifestyle choices;
• Clearly representing eating occasions;
• Reflect diversity of our consumers, in ethnicity, age, and gender, as well as size and shape; and
• Portraying safe behaviors, including safe food handling and kitchen practices.

Working with others to support responsible marketing

We believe that in addition to our own global marketing to children policy, supporting pledges at both global and national level encourages local companies to follow our lead and improve the types of products advertised to children. However, the requirements outlined in our internal marketing to children policy are followed in addition to voluntary industry marketing pledges.

Mondelēz International is a founding member of the International Food & Beverage Alliance; and along with other members, made a global commitment to the World Health Organization to either not advertise products to children under age 12 or only advertise products that meet specific nutrition criteria to children under age 12 and to monitor those efforts.

Monitoring our committment

As part of its process, IFBA engages Accenture, third party media auditor, to monitor and report publicly on progress each year. Accenture employs a measure of compliance intended to help member companies identify genuine breaches and instances where spots for restricted products were placed in or around daytime programs reaching 35 percent or more children under age 12.

Based on Accenture’s recent monitoring, 98 percent of our television advertising was compliant and we were 100 percent compliant for print and online. Accenture’s report was based on a review covering six countries: Brazil, China (Shanghai), Colombia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Accenture also reviewed print publications and websites across five countries: Brazil, China (Shanghai region), Russia, Singapore and South Africa. We review results with our marketing and media buying teams, as well as media buying agencies where there were incidences of non-compliance and put corrective steps where needed to avoid future concerns.

Region and local market pledges

We participate in marketing to children pledge programs covering over 40 countries, including: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, the U.S. and the EU.

Supporting the EU Pledge

One of the industry advertising commitments we have signed up to is the European Union Pledge, a voluntary initiative by leading food and beverage companies to change food and beverage advertising to children under the age of twelve in the European Union. In 2018, the EU Pledge was further enhanced to increase transparency and accountability by launching a mechanism through which members of the public and organisations can question the compliance of marketing communications with the commitment. More information can be found here. If you wish to file a complaint, click here.​