A band of celebrity chefs including Gary Rhodes, Raymond Blanc, Nigel Slater and Antony Worrall Thompson have joined forces to pressure the Government to ban junk food advertising during children’s TV programmes.

More than 20 industry celebrities have signed an open letter calling for Tony Blair to support MP Mary Creagh’s Children’s Food Bill.

The letter calls for food education to become part of the school curriculum and to end junk food being presented as “positive and desirable” on TV.

River Cottage chef, Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall said: “There is a tremendous problem with children eating inappropriate diets. The long-term solutions is education, getting kids to understand about real food and how to prepare it.”

The letter will be presented at the bill’s launch in the House of Commons today.

Click here for full letter and signatories >>

By Emily Manson

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