Organisations unite to back Nigel Griffiths MP in call for 9pm watershed for junk food adverts

4th December 2007

Some of the most influential health and consumer organisations in the UK, including Which?, Sustain*, the British Heart Foundation (BHF), National Heart Forum (NHF), Cancer Research UK and National Consumer Council (NCC) have pledged their united support for a Private Member’s Bill from Nigel Griffiths MP.

The Bill, which receives its first reading tomorrow, would impose a 9pm watershed on the TV advertising of junk food, as well as significant restrictions on non-broadcast marketing, in order to help in the fight against obesity.

Current measures meant to shield children from advertisements for junk foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) do not go far enough. Which? research** recently revealed that eighteen of the 20 programmes most watched by children under 16 years old will not be covered by new advertising rules being introduced in January***.

The Bill comes just weeks after the Prime Minister acknowledged the need to curb the promotion of ‘inappropriate foods’**** as part of the nation’s efforts to tackle obesity.

Nigel Griffiths MP, comments:

“There is no single solution to childhood obesity but tougher restrictions on the way unhealthy foods are marketed to children are essential.

“If children are not exposed to sophisticated ads for unhealthy foods, parents will find it easier to encourage healthy eating and the whole country will benefit.”

Notes to editors

The Bill receives its first reading on Wednesday 5th December.
To arrange an interview with Nigel Griffiths MP, please contact Vicky Taylor at Which? on 0207 770 7567 / Vicky.taylor@which.co.uk

Contacts

• *Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming' co-ordinates the Children's Food Campaign, whose members include British Heart Foundation, National Heart Forum, NCC and Cancer Research UK. Go to http://www.sustainweb.org/page.php?id=76 for a full list. Contact Richard Watts, Campaign Coordinator, Children's Food Campaign, M: 07710 782719.
• The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the nation’s heart charity. Call the BHF newsdesk on 020 7487 7172 or e-mail newsdesk@bhf.org.uk”.
• The National Heart Forum is an alliance of 50 national organisations working to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and related conditions in the UK. See www.heartforum.org.uk Contact: Jane Landon: T: 020 7383 7638 or M: 07929 785196.
• Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer. For further information about Cancer Research UK contact the press officer on 020 7061 8300 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org.

Research / sources

**Which? looked at the TV viewing figures for ITV 1, Channel 4 and 5 from 1st – 14th September 2007 to reveal which programmes children under 10 and children under 16 were watching in the largest numbers. Researchers from the British Heart Foundation Health Promotion Research Group at Oxford University then analysed the foods advertised during these programmes using the Food Standards Agency’s Nutrient Profiling Model. Foods that are ‘less healthy’ as defined by the Nutrient Profiling Model cannot be advertised during programmes ‘of appeal’ to children.

In January 2008 the current rules will be extended to programmes with a high proportion of viewers under the age of 16. If those rules applied today, just two of the top 20 programmes would be covered.

***Current TV broadcast restrictions developed by Ofcom:

• From 1 January 2008, HFSS advertisements will not be permitted in or around programmes made for children (including pre-school children), or in or around programmes that are likely to be of particular appeal to children aged 4-15.
• Since 1 April 2007, advertisements for foods high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) have not been permitted in or around programmes made for children (including pre-school children), or in or around programmes that are likely to be of particular appeal to children aged 4-9.

****Prime Minister’s Questions, Wednesday 17 October 2007.

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