UK wants junk food ad restrictions online, too

by Nicole Weston, Posted Jun 17th 2006 @ 10:12AM

Recognizing that television is not the sole media source that children are exposed to, British ministers are wondering whether a proposal that bans junk food ads on television will be effective. As a result, they are now considering whether to add restrictions to the ad content of websites, computer games, cinemas and packaging, as well as corporate school sponsorships. Such measures "could be voluntary or compulsory depending on the response of the food industry." Strict measures like these are being supported by the Labour Party and various parent groups.

The Food Standards Agency, backing the ban, has devised a "nutrient profiling system" to identify "junk foods" according to their nutritional information. It could be used to determine whether or not a food product could be advertised if a ban becomes legislation.

Ofcom, a television regular, thinks that measures like this seem too strict. A pre-9pm television ban alone would cost networks and advertisers at least £141 million, but there is not telling what the cost of essentially prohibiting "junk food" ads would be.

Source

Filed Under: Cooking With Kids, Trends, Newspapers, On the Blogs, Health & Medical
Tags: ad, ads, advertising, advertisments, big brother, britain, children, control, england, food, food standards agency, foods, fsa, health, internet, junk food, kids, news, obesity, ofcom, regulations, television, tv, websites