{"id":9422,"date":"2026-01-05T05:52:59","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T05:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=9422"},"modified":"2026-01-05T05:52:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T05:52:59","slug":"junk-food-advert-ban-comes-into-force","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=9422","title":{"rendered":"Junk food advert ban comes into force"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Archie Mitchell<\/span>Business reporter<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Junk food adverts are banned on television and online starting today as part of a drive to tackle childhood obesity. <\/p>\n

The UK-wide ban stops food and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) being advertised on TV before 21:00 and at any time online.<\/p>\n

It applies to products considered to be the biggest drivers of childhood obesity, including soft drinks, chocolates and sweets, pizzas and ice creams.<\/p>\n

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said it is committed to helping people eat healthily and has been voluntarily abiding by the new restrictions since October.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As well as more obviously unhealthy foods, the ban also covers some breakfast cereals and porridges, sweetened bread products, and main meals and sandwiches.<\/p>\n

Decisions over which products fall under the ban are based on a scoring tool, balancing their nutrient levels against whether they are high in saturated fat, salt, or sugar.<\/p>\n

Plain oats and most porridge, muesli and granola are not banned under the crackdown, but some versions with added sugar, chocolate or syrup could be affected.<\/p>\n

Firms can still promote healthier versions of banned products, which the government hopes will lead to food makers developing healthier recipes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The ban only covers adverts in which unhealthy products can be seen by viewers, meaning fast-food firms will still be able to advertise using their brand name<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Previously, HFSS food and drink adverts were banned on any platform where more than a quarter of the audience was under 16.<\/p>\n

Firms that do not comply with the new rules risk action by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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NHS data shows almost one in 10 (9.2%) reception-aged children are now living with obesity, while one in five children have tooth decay by the age of five.<\/p>\n

It is estimated obesity costs the NHS more than \u00a311bn every year.<\/p>\n

Evidence shows children’s exposure to ads for unhealthy food can influence what they eat from a young age, in turn putting them at greater risk of becoming overweight or obese.<\/p>\n

The government estimates the ad ban will prevent around 20,000 cases of childhood obesity.<\/p>\n

Katherine Brown, professor of behaviour change in health at the University of Hertfordshire, said the ban was “long overdue and a move in the right direction”.<\/p>\n

She said: “Children are highly susceptible to aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods and exposure to them puts them at greater risk of developing obesity and associated chronic diseases.”<\/p>\n

Ms Brown called for the government to make nutritious options “more affordable, accessible and appealing”.<\/p>\n

The FDF said manufacturers are “committed to working in partnership with the government and others to help people make healthier choices”.<\/p>\n

It added: “Investing in developing healthier products has been a key priority for food and drink manufacturers for many years and as a result, our members’ products now have a third of the salt and sugar and a quarter of the calories than they did ten years ago.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

#Junk #food #advert #ban #force<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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