ADVERTISING. Call to ban junk food advertising (UK)

Call to ban junk food advertising

Last Modified: 22 Jun 2005
Source: ITN

Junk food advertising should be banned in a bid to curb Britain's growing obesity epidemic, the medical profession has said.

The British Medical Association has also backed initiatives highlighted by TV chef Jamie Oliver to improve the quality of school dinners.

Its report says that school meals should adhere to strict guidelines on sugar and fat content, and all unhealthy food and drink vending machines in schools should be banned.

And it has called for the Government to subsidise the cost of fruit and vegetables to encourage healthy eating.

"There should be a ban on the advertising of unhealthy foodstuffs, including inappropriate sponsorship programmes, targeted at school children," the report said.

Obesity is an epidemic which is said to affect one million children in Britain.

Some doctors predict we are now facing a US-style timebomb of diabetes and heart disease - all brought on by growing obesity levels.

 

SOURCE: http://www.channel4.com/news/content/news-storypage.jsp?id=1670947

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