Junk Food Ads to Be Banned from Kids’ TV Essay Example

but they have warned that if the industry does not comply, changes will be enforced through new legislation. The National Heart Forum, Sustain, and other food and health lobbyists argue against limiting controls to only children's programs. Richard Watts of Sustain highlights alarming statistics indicating that 70% of commercials during children's viewing promote food, with approximately 80-100% of these advertisements being for unhealthy junk food. Watts emphasizes that sending such messages to children is particularly worrisome given the growing problem of weight-related issues.

In the past decade, there has been a significant surge in childhood obesity rates. The number of obese six-year-olds has doubled, while obese 15-year-olds have tripled in number. This increase in obesity among children has also resulted in a rise in diseases associated with it, such as type 2 diabetes. To tackle this problem, Jane Landon, NHF's deputy chief executive, suggests implementing a restriction on advertisements promoting unhealthy foods before 9pm. As children-focused programs are typically broadcasted during specific times like morning, lunchtime, and afternoon when kids return from school, this ban would be applicable to both regular TV channels and dedicated children-specific channels like Disney Channel and Nickelodeon.

Ofcom has cautioned that implementing a 9pm watershed could be highly problematic, as it could significantly impact the revenue of certain commercial TV channels. An alternative approach would involve prohibiting all types of food advertisements, including those promoting healthy products, prior to the watershed. This would prevent the specific targeting of junk food manufacturers for a ban. Food expert Sue Dibb from the National Consumer Council expressed her disappointment, stating that anything short of comprehensive restrictions on all TV ads and

promotions for high fat, salt and sugar foods before 9pm would be highly unsatisfactory. The British Medical Association and backbench Labour MPs are also in favor of a complete prohibition on junk food commercials.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics at the BMA, has called for an end to the marketing of unhealthy cereals, snacks, and processed meals targeting children and parents. The Food & Drink Federation disagrees with the need for restrictions, arguing that demonizing specific products oversimplifies the complex nature of people's lifestyles and eating habits. In a similar vein, Peter Beresford, the UK boss of McDonalds, rejects TV advertising restrictions and asserts that McDonald's should not be held responsible for the increase in obesity. According to Beresford, there is no distinction between good and bad food, only poor dietary choices.