MPs to debate kids’ TV junk food advertising

Do your kids nag you for unhealthy treats and snacks?

Well, MPs reckon that TV advertising could be contributing to the rising obesity epidemic, and encouraging children to hanker after fatty and sugary grub.

Some recent studies have found shocking results: 25% of five year olds in the UK are obese. The British government have been spurred into action and are now considering tightening the current law on children’s junk food adverts.

Although it is now illegal to run junk food adverts during shows that under 16s are most likely to tune into, the Labour MP Nigel Griffiths now wants a complete ban on unhealthy snack ads before the 9pm watershed. His argument is that children still end up watching shows that aren’t specifically aimed at them, such as X Factor and Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

The MPs were due to debate the new bill in Parliament on Friday.

Clare Corbett, a food campaigner for Which? told The Guardian: “We fully support this bill. Our research has found parents feel their attempts to give children a healthy diet is being undermined by irresponsible advertising. This bill will do something to avert the impending childhood obesity crisis.”

Source: www.guardian.co.uk