Junk food TV ads to be banned before 9pm
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- Published: Monday, 25 March 2019 07:19
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The Department of Health and Social Care has issued a new public consultation which asks people for their views on ways to reduce the number of adverts for foods high in fat, sugar and salt that children are exposed to. Steve Brine, Public Health Minister, said: “It is not right that our children are so widely and easily exposed to adverts promoting foods high in fat, sugar and salt.”
The Daily Telegraph has reported that, despite restrictions on advertising around children’s television programmes, children are still being exposed to “significant amounts” of advertising for products that are high in fat, salt or sugar.
The Government is also consulting on whether radio stations and the internet should be subject to further restrictions “to ensure we are being proportionate”.The plans, which were signed off by ministers, have been opposed by broadcasters amid concerns that they will see advertising revenues diverted to online companies. Health chiefs have repeatedly called on the Government to act amid concerns that television adverts for unhealthy food are driving up levels of obesity.
While junk food adverts during children’s programmes have been banned since 2007, children spend 64% of their viewing time watching shows not specifically aimed at them. A recent study found that half of food and drink adverts seen by children are for products that are high in fat, sugar or salt.
Last year, Cancer Research UK said that watching one extra junk food advert a week means children eat an additional 18,000 calories a year. The study showed the additional consumption is the equivalent of around 70 Mars bars or 60 cheeseburgers – and could amount to a 5lb weight gain annually.
Research by the Obesity Health Alliance found that junk food companies in the UK spend £143 million a year on advertising – almost 30 times the £5 million spent annually by Government on healthy eating campaigns. However, broadcasters warn that a watershed ban risks permanent damage to their industry.
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