Food companies are accused on Tuesday by the World Health Organisation, the public health arm of the UN, of finding ways to bypass the rules on advertising unhealthy products to children and fuelling the obesity epidemic. Attempts
by the authorities in Britain to clamp down on marketing to children
through television advertising are not enough to protect them, a major
report by the WHO says. There are tough rules on advertising during
children's TV programmes but not on shows such as ITV1's Britain's Got
Talent and The X Factor, which research shows are widely watched by
younger viewers.
Increasingly, food companies are also targeting
children through computer games, mobile phones and social networks such
as Facebook. The WHO report calls for tighter regulation across
the whole of Europe of the marketing to children of foods high in fat,
salt and sugar.
"Millions of children across the region are being
subjected to unacceptable marketing practices," said Zsuzsanna Jakab,
regional director of WHO Europe. "Policy simply must catch up and
address the reality of an obese childhood in the 21st century.
"Children
are surrounded by adverts urging them to consume high fat, high sugar,
high salt foods, even when they are in places where they should be
protected, such as schools and sports facilities."
Britain has
done more than some other European countries to guard children against
advertising for unhealthy food, snacks and sweets, says the report, but
it is not one of the six countries – Denmark, France, Norway, Slovenia,
Spain and Sweden – that have fully implemented a European code on
restricting marketing to children. There are, says the report, gaps and
weaknesses in the UK regulations.
More on this story here.
Eddie
2 comments:
If six European countries can do it why are we (Britain) so far behind. No wait we have done something but as usual fallen short of the whole deal.Once again money before health!
Jeanne
"There are tough rules on advertising during children's TV programmes but not on shows such as ITV1's Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor," which of course attract a lot of children. Goodness there are even children taking part in these shows. Policy, rules however you call it must catch up.
L B
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