ZAGREB, 3 August 2026 (Hina) – Two Croatian health organisations have prepared a proposal for a new law aimed at protecting children from obesity and improving nutritional information on food products
The proposal, created by the POST Healthy Living Association and the Association for the Prevention of Excess Weight, would introduce warning labels on food packaging and restrict the marketing of unhealthy food products aimed at children
According to data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), more than one-third (36.1%) of eight-year-old children in Croatia are overweight or obese, placing the country among European nations with some of the highest levels of childhood obesity
Childhood obesity increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, metabolic disorders and fatty liver disease, while also affecting children’s mental health, self-confidence and social relationships, said family medicine doctor and one of the authors of the proposal, Dražen Gorjanski
The proposed legislation would introduce clearer information about food products, stronger protection from aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods, healthier food choices in public environments and better access to drinking water wherever food is consumed
The proposal also includes education for pregnant women, teaching children about food marketing techniques, and creating healthier food environments not only in schools but also in places where children gather
Simple warning labels on the front of packaging
Gorjanski stressed that the proposal would not ban any food products or remove consumers’ freedom of choice. Instead, its aim is to provide clearer information
This would include simple warning labels on the front of packaging highlighting products that contain high levels of sugar, salt or saturated fats
The proposal also defines what constitutes marketing directed at children, including the use of cartoon characters, toys, games, child-friendly language, influencers popular among young audiences, or advertising placed in media and time slots primarily intended for children
The rules would also apply to social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram when they are used to promote food products to children, while not regulating the general operation of those platforms
No new tax on unhealthy food
Gorjanski rejected claims that the proposed law would introduce a tax on unhealthy food
“The law does not introduce a new tax. It only leaves the possibility for the government to consider future fiscal measures if there are professional reasons and impact assessments supporting them,” he said
Any future taxation measures and decisions on how collected funds would be used would require separate legislation and further analysis
Regarding school meals, Gorjanski said schools would gradually need to align their food offerings with nutritional standards. Products with poor nutritional profiles would no longer be part of regular school meals
“Children will not be left without snacks. The goal is for the offer to become nutritionally better, not poorer,” he said
Same criteria for traditional products
The proposed nutritional criteria are based on internationally recognised models, particularly the World Health Organization’s European nutritional model, Gorjanski explained
The assessment would focus on a product’s composition rather than whether it is domestic or foreign
Traditional Croatian products would not be banned, but products with an unfavourable nutritional profile would be subject to the same rules as all other foods
This could include products such as kulen and pršut, depending on their nutritional content
The proposal also addresses advertising that promotes weight loss among children, aiming to protect young people from both unhealthy eating messages and unrealistic body image standards
Implementation to be monitored by inspectors
If adopted, the law would apply to all food producers and importers, with implementation monitored by relevant inspection authorities
Gorjanski said no single law could solve childhood obesity on its own, but international research suggests that a combination of warning labels, restrictions on child-focused marketing and healthier food environments can significantly contribute to reducing obesity rates
He referred to a recent study published in The Lancet, which analysed more than 300,000 children in Chile and found measurable positive effects from similar measures
Citizens, doctors, parents and representatives of the food industry can submit comments on the proposal until 15 SeptemberAssociation for the Prevention of Excess Weight before the proposal is submitted to the Croatian Parliament
