Junk food advertising: Legislate first, ask questions later...

A private members bill is being introduced to extend Ofcom's proposed ban on advertising so-called junk food.

They assert that such an extended ban will make a significant contribution to reducing obesity but are unable to offer compelling evidence that demonstrates that this is the case.

In the meantime The Grocer has this to say:

Weekly trade magazine the Grocer is launching a campaign, called Weigh It Up!, that aims to highlight the "absurdities" of the model used to classify what foods are banned from being advertised.

Ofcom used a nutrient profiling model, supplied by the Food Standards Agency, to determine which products are too high in salt, sugar and fat and therefore should be banned.

The Weigh it Up! campaign aims to point out the loopholes in this system. It says that on one hand it bans raisins, certain types of honey, All-Bran, Marmite, cheese and Greek yoghurt, and on the other lets chicken nuggets, curry and plain white bread escape the ban.

Perhaps the private bill sponsors could answer these points before advancing their plan.

Comments

[Paul]

If you are after evidence, here it is.

Ofcom admitted that the pre-9pm watershed restrictions this Bill recommends would be more than twice as effective as their final recommendations in reducing children's exposure to junk food advertising.

The Hastings Review of the academic literature on junk food advertising demonstrated the significant direct and indirect impact of junk food advertising on children's diets.
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/foodpromotiontochildren1.pdf

A recent Australian academic study found comprehensive restrictions on junk food advertising to be by far the most cost effective means to tackle childhood obesity.
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/healthpromotion/downloads/ace_obesity.pdf

[John Charlesworth]

“It says that on one hand it bans raisins, certain types of honey, All-Bran, Marmite, cheese and Greek yoghurt, and on the other lets chicken nuggets, curry and plain white bread escape the ban.”And there lies to nub of the anti argument: i.e. that we are in the nanny state instead of learning to look after ourselves; and our children. A little bit of what you fancy does you goodas we say. My kids loved Marmite, Honey and All-Bran. They were thin and healthy. Good parenting and guidance is of the essence otherwise we are governed by the so called do-gooders.