Campaigners want wider ban on junk food adverts
A ban on adverts for junk food appearing during television programmes aimed at children under 16 came into force last week, in the latest phase of restrictions imposed by media regulator Ofcom.
Last April, the advertising of foods high in fat, salt and sugar was banned from television programmes made for pre-school children and programmes likely to appeal to children aged under nine (News, 1 March 2007).
From December 2008 dedicated children's channels will be banned from showing advertisements for such foods altogether.
The new restrictions have been criticised by health campaigners, who have said that a complete ban on junk food advertising before 9pm is necessary to fight the child obesity epidemic.
Richard Watts from the Children's Food Campaign said, 'The rules introduced this week will make little or no difference to children's health. Because the rules only look at the proportion of children in the audience and not the number of children watching, 18 out of the 20 programmes most watched by children, such as 'The X Factor' and 'Ant and Dec', will be unaffected.
'We know that Ofcom wants to support the television industry and the finances of broadcasters, but we are asking the Government to protect children.'
