Schools are meant to be places of learning and growth, where children develop not just academically but also physically and emotionally. They should be environments that nurture healthy habits and protect young minds. Yet across the region, many of our schools inadvertently support and even promote unhealthy diets. Branded sports gear, canteens filled with unhealthy snacks, and sponsored events have turned schools into marketing playgrounds for food products proven to harm health. We are often told by industry, media, and even some policymakers that it’s all about personal responsibility and that we simply need to make better decisions. But what kind of choice are we really giving children when their school environments are flooded with marketing, shaped by brand influence, and filled with products that undermine their health?
This is one of the realities behind the worsening obesity crisis in the Caribbean, an epidemic largely driven by unhealthy diets high in ultra-processed products (UPPs). Approximately one in three children across the region live with overweight or obesity. According to the Pan American Health Organization’s ENLACE Data Portal, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents is projected to reach 42.3% and 19.7% respectively by 2030 in the Region of the Americas. Despite growing public awareness around the impact of childhood obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), meaningful progress remains slow, and no Caribbean country is on track to meet global nutrition targets to reduce and maintain childhood overweight to less than 3%.
Industry Influence: Hidden in Plain Sight
Unhealthy food and beverage options are aggressively marketed, more visible, more accessible, and often cheaper, which makes them easier to choose over healthy options. From posters on school walls to branded tents at sports day events, marketing dictates what children see as ‘normal’ to eat and drink. We do not advertise tobacco or alcohol to children at school, so why do ultra processed products (UPPs) high in sugar, salt and fat get a free pass? These products, just like tobacco and alcohol, are harmful to children’s health. No child should have to navigate a minefield of unhealthy choices at school.
Marketing practices by the unhealthy food and beverage industry are a major commercial determinant of health. This term refers to how corporations influence health through the products they sell and how they sell them. Guerilla marketing is one of the most powerful tools, especially when aimed at children. These companies embed their products into school environments through sponsorships, donations, scholarships, and giveaways that appear helpful and harmless but serve as strategic marketing tools. Research shows exposure to this marketing fosters unhealthy eating habits and increases the risk of obesity and early onset NCDs such as hypertension and diabetes.
When companies profiting from unhealthy products are allowed to influence school activities or sit at policymaking tables that influence governance of school food environments, the integrity of the school environment is at risk. Why should those who market unhealthy UPPs to children have a say in shaping the policies meant to protect their health? Why should those who market unhealthy UPPs to children have a say in shaping the policies meant to protect their health? As we move forward from Caribbean Nutrition Month June 2025, which focused on the theme “Healthy Eating, Active Living, Sustainable Diets for a Healthier Caribbean,” we must recognize that children cannot thrive if their school environments are dominated by commercial interests marketing unhealthy diets.
A Regional Blueprint for Change
To move beyond personal responsibility, we must first recognise how industry shapes our choices and environments. Governments have a duty to protect schools by regulating marketing and ensuring that health comes first. CARICOM policymakers have a critical window of opportunity to act. Protecting children’s health must become a regional priority, not an afterthought. This means adopting a Health in All Policies approach, where we recognize that the decisions we make in sectors such as agriculture, trade, finance and education directly shape the health of our populations. The decisions we make today will echo for generations.
Ending the marketing of ultra-processed products in and around schools is one essential step to creating environments that foster healthy growth, uphold children’s rights, and build resilience against future NCDs at an early age. By putting the health of children above profits, we can lead by example and secure a healthier future for all.
Author Bios:
Dr. Carlene Radix, MD, MPH, is a public health physician, executive leader, and global expert in the Caribbean region with over 20yrs of experience. She has spearheaded and delivered programmes with an emphasis on responsive health systems in disaster prone SIDS (Small Island Developing States). Dr. Radix previously directed the Human and Social Division at the OECS, leading strategy for the 11 member states while securing substantial funding for critical health and social development initiatives. She has a passion for advancing health equity through education, evidence-based programming, and collaborative partnerships. Dr. Radix is currently the Assistant Dean of Community and Global Health at Ross University, leading in the development and implementation of a Community Medicine and Global Health Program in which she continues to educate and mentor health professionals and conduct and share research.
Ms. Dorial Quintyne, MPH, is a public health professional based in Barbados and a member of Healthy Caribbean Youth.
The post Beyond Personal Responsibility: Tackling Industry Influence in Caribbean School Environments appeared first on Healthy Caribbean Coalition.
