FAQ's

Consumer Health

Obesity is a growing problem, how are you responding to this?

1. Products and Innovation

   Through innovation we're investing in the development of new products within every category that will provide consumers with more choice. These include lower calorie offerings and new sweetening options. In addition, we're reducing trans-fats and salt content in our products and have discontinued making products which contain embedded toys.
   
   

2. Marketing

   We've introduced a global marketing code of practice with specific reference to children. We don't advertise to children under eight years where they're the majority
   of the audience.
   
   

3. Portion Sizes

   We've reviewed our single-serve portion sizes around the world and are providing a broader range of smaller portion options.
   
   

4. Labelling

   We're looking for ways to help people make more informed choices. This includes providing more information about our products and ingredients and messages to help educate the consumer. We've launched a new global labelling standard.
   
   

5. Vending

   We don't vend our confectionery or carbonated soft drink products in primary schools and will only vend these products in secondary schools by invitation and in line with nutritional guidelines set by the school. Guidelines for vending are included within our global marketing code of practice.
   
   

6. Consumer Insight

   We continue to invest in consumer research that helps build our knowledge around health concerns, including obesity. We're using and sharing our consumer research and expertise to help improve understanding of concerns, both within and outside our business.
   
   

7. Education

   We continue to support initiatives that promote physical activity and responsible consumption of our products. We're also helping to build understanding of the "energy equation" particularly amongst children.
   
   

8. Community

   As part of our wider corporate social responsibility programme we'll continue to support initiatives that promote physical activity and education that helps improve consumer health and prevent obesity.
   
   

9. Business Partners

   We're asking our business partners and suppliers to support our responses to obesity and consumer health concerns.
   
   

10. Employees

    We're active in helping our people understand and improve their own health and well-being.
    
    

11. Science

    We work with the scientific community and base our decisions on sound science. We're investing in new science and increasing our scientific resources within our business.
    
    

12. Other stakeholders

    We're working with others (including government, campaigners, shareholders and customers) to help find solutions.

What information do you provide on your products?

Do your products come in a range of sizes so that I can enjoy them without eating too much?

Yes - we offer products in a wide range of sizes designed for all the kinds of occasions when people enjoy them. Our product ranges are as diverse as the people who consume them.

Larger single servings are appropriate when they're consumed sensibly within the context of an individual's overall diet and levels of activity. However, we're reviewing the portion sizes
of our products around the world and we're working with our business partners and customers seeking their support for our approach to portion sizes.

Ingredients

Do you have Trans fats in your products?

Trans fats can be found in our products and they come from two sources. Some are naturally occurring and can be found in milk, butter and natural oils and fats, others are added as part of the production process. Although scientific opinion differs, we recognise that there is a consensus emerging that high levels of consumption of trans fats could be a health concern. Consequently, whilst it's not possible to reduce the levels of naturally occurring trans fats, we are working to reduce the level of total trans fats in our products to less than 0.5g per single serving worldwide.

Do you use genetically modified ingredients in your products?

Genetically modified ingredients (GMIs) used in food production are ingredients produced from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

We recognise that in some markets a majority of consumers prefer products not associated with genetic modification and we'll respond to their requirements. In addition, we'll always follow regulatory requirements in order to ensure that our labelling clearly informs consumers of any GMIs.

Marketing

What is your approach to advertising to young children?

Cadbury Schweppes believes that parents and guardians/carers are the most important influence in the development of children.

Advertising directly to children is appropriate, only when it is conducted in an environment that supports the parental role, or where the child has reached an age of cognisance and reason, which is now generally accepted as eight years. Because of this, we've withdrawn from advertising directed specifically at children aged less than eight years where they're the majority of the audience and we've introduced a global Marketing Code of Practice, which includes specific reference to children.

Do you sell your products through vending machines in schools?

Cadbury Schweppes do not believe that it's appropriate to sell our confectionery and carbonated soft drink products through vending machines in primary schools and we will not do so.

Research shows that secondary school children will leave school premises if products they want are not available and vending can help schools ensure their safety and security.

We believe that vending is appropriate in secondary schools, only when we're asked to do
so by the education or school authority, and when the products meet nutritional guidelines set by the authority. In these circumstances, and if requested, we also welcome opportunities to try to work with authorities to produce and supply products that meet their specific nutritional requirements.

What is Cadbury Schweppes' Marketing Code?

We are proud of our brands. They provide fun and enjoyment as treats or refreshment, and are valued for their functional benefits. They can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet and lifestyle.

We provide choice by offering variety and through innovation.

We encourage responsible consumption, as this is central to consumers continuing to enjoy our brands.

Our consumers are at the heart of our business. We are committed to listening to them and acting responsibly in their interests and have done this successfully for generations.

This Marketing Code of Practice ensures we continue to meet our responsibilities to our consumers.

1. Copy, sound and visual presentation will accurately represent all material dimensions
   of products advertised, including taste, size, content and nutrition and health benefits.
   
   
2. All our advertising will be truthful, accurate and well substantiated. Health benefit claims will have a sound nutritional basis and comply with applicable government regulations.
   
   
3. Our advertising will reflect moderation in consumption and portion sizes appropriate
   to the social and cultural setting portrayed.
   
   
4. Our advertising will never portray or endorse inappropriate or over consumption.
   
   
5. Unless a food product has been nutritionally designed as a meal replacement, it will
   not be portrayed as such.
   
   
6. In every country where we advertise we will be attentive to local, cultural, political
   and religious sensitivities and always market within the highest common denominator
   of any existing regulatory, advertiser, agency and broadcaster guidelines.
   
   
7. We will apply these guidelines to all forms of media including print, broadcast and cable television, radio, video, telephone, point-of-sale, online advertising, other
   internet activities and packaging.
   
   
8. This code is reviewed annually by the group's President of Commercial Strategy and put before the company's Food Issues Strategy Group for policy approval.
   
   With particular reference to marketing to children
   
9. We will always take into account the level of knowledge, sophistication and maturity
   of the people we are advertising to. Younger children have a limited capacity for evaluating the credibility of information they receive. They also may lack the ability to understand the nature of the personal information they disclose on the Internet. We recognise and will act on the special responsibility we have to protect children from their own vulnerabilities. Therefore, we will not advertise where children under the age of eight are likely to be the majority of the audience. Eight years is generally accepted as the age at which children are viewed as being able to comprehend what an advertisement is seeking to achieve and to make judgements accordingly. (Also see: Advertising to children)
   
   
10. We will not advertise during or adjacent to a programme if the content of our advertisement is derived from or associated with that programme. For example, we will not use broadcast or print media personalities (live or animated) to sell products, premiums or services in a way that obscures the distinction between programme or editorial content and commercial promotion. Commercials and advertisements featuring characters from programmes or publications primarily directed to children should not be adjacent to programmes or articles in which the same personality or character appears.
    
    
11. We will not show children under eight years in advertisements and promotions aimed at children.
    
    
12. We will not have any visual reference of children under eight years on company-owned vending equipment.
    
    
13. Our advertising will not misrepresent the potential benefits from the consumption of a product such as status or popularity with peers, sporting success or intelligence.
    
    
14. Our advertising to children will not create a sense of urgency or price minimisation.
    
    
15. We will use language and visuals that are clearly understandable in advertising and promotions, especially where it relates to the likelihood of winning a prize or being included in a club of any kind.
    
    
16. Where we have websites with children's content, we will not knowingly link to pages of other sites that do not comply with our standards. We will not seek to gain the address or other personal details of the child, we will not e-mail children and we will comply with any higher or additional standards imposed by applicable local law. We will use this area of any website we have to remind and encourage parents to check and monitor their children's use of online activities regularly. Under limited circumstances of safety, security, liability and other purposes permitted under applicable law, when contacted by a child, we will use the personal information they provide to attempt to notify and obtain consent from the parent/guardian and will not further use such information for marketing to such children.
    
    
17. We will not use visuals, language or messages that encourage children to pester parents or others to buy products.
    
    
18. Our advertising will support the role of parents and other appropriate adult role models in guiding and deciding what children should eat and drink.
    
    
19. We will take great care when using any form of fantasy, including animation, not to exploit a child's imagination in a way that can encourage poor dietary habits or less than sensible consumption.
    
    
20. When using fictitious or real characters to promote our products, which are in the
    treat and occasional consumption range, we will not use such characters to promote inappropriate consumption.
    
    
21. Our products will be represented in a way to encourage the sound use of the product, with a view towards proper nutritional development of the child and development of good nutritional practices.
    
    
22. We will, where appropriate, capitalise on the potential of advertising to influence behaviour by developing advertising that supports positive and beneficial social behaviour including sensible consumption, friendship, kindness, justice, honesty, generosity and respect of others, and in so doing expose children to the benefits of constructive advertising approaches.
    
    
23. Prior to release, all advertisements and promotions to children will be reviewed at an early stage for the appropriateness of the activity and then checked against this code before being signed off by business unit general managers. In addition, there will be a periodic review of business unit activity by regional and global management to ensure that interpretation of the code is aligned locally, regionally and globally.
    
    

Sources/references

This code has been developed with reference to the following:

With particular reference to Marketing to Children: