THE KEY RISK
If your posts:
- Promote doughnuts (an HFSS product)
- Appear on a business account
- Are seen by or appeal to under-16s
You could be in breach of advertising rules.
DO
- Lead with the charity and cause
- Keep doughnuts secondary in messaging
- Ensure content is aimed at adults
- Use neutral, non-childlike visuals and tone
- Carefully control audience targeting on paid posts
DON’T
- Don’t target or appeal to children under 16
- Don’t use cartoons, playful characters, or “kids” language
- Don’t make doughnuts the hero of the message
- Don’t assume “it’s for charity” makes it compliant
- Don’t boost posts without checking audience settings
MESSAGING EXAMPLES
High Risk – Treat the kids to fun doughnuts this week
Compliant Approach – We’re supporting [Charity Name] this week, join us in raising funds for a great cause.
Bottom Line – You can run a successful charity doughnut week – but your marketing must:
- Focus on the cause, not the product
- You can post about doughnuts
But you can’t post in a way that targets or strongly appeals to children - Be clearly adult-targeted. Always follow HFSS advertising rules