Moves to ban all food and drink advertising aimed at young children have received widespread support from a growing number of organisations, the House of Commons was told last week.
In a debate on the Children's Television (Advertising) Bill, its proposer, Debra Shipley, Labour MP for Stourbridge, West Midlands, said that 89 organisations supported her campaign, including the National Heart Forum, the Food Commission, Diabetes UK, the National Consumer Council, the British Heart Foundation, the National Obesity Forum and the National Union of Teachers.
Doug McAvoy, NUT general secretary, said the Bill was 'a welcome initiative' because 'there has been a major increase in promotions by fast food manufacturers targeted directly at children'. He added, 'It is an issue that directly concerns schools. Poor diet and poor health are two sides of the same coin.'
Mrs Shipley said, 'Those well-respected organisations back my campaign because they recognise that we have a serious health problem, with increasing childhood diabetes and obesity, both of which can kill.
'The organisations backing my campaign recognise that the continuous advertising of high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt content food and drink to children has an impact on their health.'
As Mrs Shipley made her comments the Consumers' Association published a report that found that many food products targeted directly at children were high in sugar, fat and salt, and that regular consumption of these products could lead to a range of health problems.
The Association found that a number of products aimed at children were higher in sugar and salt than their adult equivalents, and some were being marketed as providing one portion of the recommended daily allowance of fruit and vegetables.
A nutritionist, Dr Helen Crawley, analysed two daily menus of food a child aged between seven and ten might eat in a day, based on the claims on the products. She concluded that following such a diet on a regular basis could increase the risk of becoming overweight and developing tooth decay and diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
However, the Food and Drink Federation, which represents manufacturers, described the report as 'irresponsible and needlessly worrying for parents'.
Deputy director general Martin Paterson said, 'It is absolutely untrue to suggest that children's products are damaging to health.
'The food industry takes the health of its consumers very seriously. With 20,000 to 30,000 products on sale in many supermarkets, never before has there been so much variety from which parents and children can build a healthy, balanced diet.'
