The Obesity Health Alliance has written to the Secretaries of State for Health and Social Care and for Culture, Media and Sport to welcome the introduction of the Less Healthy Food and Drink Advertising Regulations, and call on the government to strengthen the legislation to ensure it delivers as intended.
The letter, signed by over 50 members including the British Heart Foundation, British Medical Association, Diabetes UK, Nesta, Sustain, British Dietetic Association and many more, raises concerns about exemptions for brand advertising, the limited range of products and media covered, and the continued use of the outdated 2003/04 Nutrient Profiling Model.
The letter also warns that restricting the rules to TV and online advertising risks displacement into other channels, particularly outdoor advertising, and could further widen health inequalities. The Alliance is therefore urging the Government to see this as the first step towards ending all junk food advertising to children, and strengthen the regulations by adopting the 2018 Nutrient Profiling Model, expanding the products and media in scope, removing brand exemptions, and beginning work on further protections.
Read the open letter here
Katharine Jenner, Executive Director of the Obesity Health Alliance said:
“Bringing these long-awaited restrictions into force is an important step towards protecting children from relentless junk food advertising. But this legislation will only deliver its promise if it is robustly enforced and strengthened over time. Loopholes such as the broad brand advertising exemptions, a narrow range of products and media in scope, and reliance on an outdated nutrient profiling model risk limiting its impact and driving advertising into other channels, including outdoor spaces.
If the Government is serious about raising the healthiest generation ever and tackling widening health inequalities, this must be a starting point – not the end. Swift action is now needed to close these gaps and move towards ending unhealthy food and drink advertising to children across all media by the end of this Parliament.”
Read further reaction to the new rules coming into force on 5th January can be found here.
The OHA are available for comment, please email press@obesityhealthalliance.org.uk