Ban junk food ads to children
Helen and a group of representatives from health and campaigning organisations have written to Government Ministers at the Department for Culture Media & Sport, questioning the conduct of Ofcom over its current consultation on restricting television food advertising to children [1].
The campaigners argue that Ofcom has prioritised industry interests over children’s health, and has:
- Demonstrated clear bias by meeting with industry representatives far more often than with representatives of health organisations [2].
- Acted against the Government’s own rules on consultations by ruling out the option of a 9pm watershed for junk food adverts [3].
- Undermined Government policy by failing to meet Minister’s deadlines on reducing junk food advertising, and by ignoring the Food Standards Agency’s demand for a 9pm watershed [4].
Helen, who worked for two national children’s charities before entering Parliament in 2005, said:
“The shambolic way in which Ofcom have carried out this consultation amounts to a failure to protect children’s health. Unfortunately, it seems Ofcom see themselves as an extension of the TV and advertising industries, rather than as an independent regulator.
“All the evidence shows that parents want support from the Government in protecting their children’s health. And it is unarguable that television advertising has a direct impact upon children’s food choices and diet. That means we need tough regulation to prevent food corporations from bombarding children with adverts for foods high in fat, sugar and salt at a time of rising obesity.
“There is now a real danger that the Government’s own regulator is directly undermining the Government’s policy of reducing children’s exposure to junk food advertising. Ministers need to take action to bring Ofcom into line, or implement their promise to introduce new laws on junk food advertising.”
[1] The signatories to the letter are:
Helen Goodman, Labour MP for Bishop Auckland
Jane Landon, Deputy Chief Executive, National Heart Forum
Richard Watts, Children’s Food Bill Co-ordinator, Sustain
Mary MacLeod, Chief Executive, National Family and Parenting Institute
Steve Sinnott, General Secretary, National Union of Teachers
[2] A Freedom of Information Act request from Sustain found that Ofcom met with industry organisations 117 times, compared to the 18 meetings it held with health and consumer groups during the pre-consultation period.
[3] Ofcom’s own research found that a 9pm watershed would be most effective in reducing children’s exposure to junk food advertising. However, this option was excluded from the consultation as Ofcom claimed it would not meet their regulatory objectives.
This contradicts the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation, which states that consultation should be completely open, with no options ruled out.
The case is also subject to an ongoing court application for judicial review brought by the National Heart Forum.
[4] The Government’s 2004 Choosing Health White Paper contained a commitment that Government would introduce new regulations to reduce the exposure of children to junk food adverts if significant change had not occurred by early 2007. Ofcom intends to introduce changes from 2007 at the earliest.
The Food Standards Agency announced at its board meeting on 15 June that it Ofcom should implement a 9pm watershed on junk food advertising to protect children’s health.
Filed under: Uncategorized on June 20th, 2006
