Calls for tighter junk food ad restrictions to kids

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has joined calls for further restrictions on the advertising of junk food to children.

Following publication of a new report, Protecting Children, the BHF has demanded tighter regulations to govern children’s exposure to advertising through television, food packaging, computer games and websites.

The charity is particularly critical of the widespread use of loved cartoon characters on TV and online to promote food high in fat, salt and sugar.

Along with consumer right body Which? The BHF is supporting Nigel Griffiths MP’s Food Products (Marketing to Children) Bill. 

Griffiths’s bill would introduce a 9pm watershed on advertising fast food to children and the increasing inclusion of non-broadcast media in the restrictions, particularly the internet, due to online games targeting children in made law.

Colin Walker, Food Campaigner at Which? said: “Which? found that 18 of the 20 programmes most watched by children were not covered by the Ofcom restrictions, and all of these feature adverts for junk food [‘less healthy’ food as defined by the Nutrient Profiling Model]. The Food Products (Marketing to Children) Bill tabled by Nigel Griffiths MP is enormously important.” 

Sign the BHF Don’t Target My Kids petition here >>

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Ofcom to begin phasing out fast-food ads during kids programmes >>

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MPs slam Government in action over rise in UK childhood obesity >>

By Jo Chapman

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