Politics

UK Junk food ad ban welcomed by health groups – but not by food industry


Boris Johnson is to ban junk food advertising online and on TV before the watershed from 2023, it has been reported.

The Prime Minister is poised to announce the ban as part of his bid to tackle the UK’s obesity crisis.

The British Heart Foundation welcomed it as a “bold and very positive step.”

But the food and drink industry branded the move a “headline chasing” policy.

Restrictions will stop short of the total ban which was proposed last year, as brand-only advertising online and on TV will be allowed to continue.

Companies can continue to promote their products on their own websites and social media platforms under the new measures, which are to be brought in from 2023, it is understood.

Small businesses with 249 employees or fewer will be exempt from the ban and permitted to advertise foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS).



The rules will stop short of a total ban
The rules will stop short of a total ban

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said the proposals would make it difficult to advertise products reformulated or created in smaller portions to be in line with the Government’s own targets.

FDF’s chief scientific officer Kate Halliwell said: “We are disappointed that the Government continues to press ahead with headline chasing policies which will undermine existing Government policies, principally the reformulation programmes to reduce calories, sugars, salt and portion sizes.

“Not only do the proposals signal a lack of joined-up policy, the implementation periods for both advertising and promotional restrictions do not give businesses enough time to prepare for the changes.”

Research by the NHS has found that one in three children leaves primary school overweight, or obese, and almost two-thirds of adults in England are overweight or living with obesity.

Analysis by the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) earlier this year suggested ending the ads could benefit children by removing the equivalent of 150 million chocolate biscuits or 41 million cheeseburgers a year from their diets.

The Advertising Association said it was “dismayed” by the move, which will mean food and drink companies will not be able to advertise “new product innovations and reformulations”.

Sue Eustace, public affairs director at the Advertising Association, said: “We all want to see a healthier, more active population, but the Government’s own analysis shows these measures won’t work.

“Levelling up society will not be achieved by punishing some of the UK’s most successful industries for minimal effect on obesity levels.”

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation said: “These plans are a bold and very positive step forward in protecting children from being inundated with junk food advertising. Introducing a 9pm TV watershed for junk food adverts and also further restrictions for online advertising is one important part in building a more healthy environment where the healthy option is the easy option.

“Sadly, children with obesity are more likely to grow up to be adults with obesity, putting them at greater risk of serious illness such as heart attack or stroke – so pressing ahead with strong measures now will help save lives in the years to come. These plans now need to be passed into law and built upon, so that they have the most positive long term effect on the nation’s health.”





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.