MPs urged to back ban on junk food advertising to kids
26.10.05

MPs are being urged to back plans aimed at ending the 'junk food' diets of local children and curbing the alarming rise in childhood obesity.

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is calling on MPs to support the measures, which include a ban on advertising junk food to children, when they are debated in Parliament this Friday as part of the Children's Food Bill.

Latest Government figures highlighted by the charity show that 13.7% of children under the age of 11 are clinically obese compared to 9.9% in 1995. CPAG says the Children's Food Bill will help to prevent childhood obesity and reduce the risk of many illnesses and behavioural disorders linked to children's 'junk' food diets by:

• protecting children from the marketing of unhealthy food and drinks;
• introducing mandatory nutrient and quality standards for all school meals;
• prohibiting the sale of unhealthy food and drink from school vending machines
• ensuring compulsory food education and related practical skills in the national curriculum;
• and placing a duty on Government to promote healthy foods to children, like fruit and vegetables.

Kate Green, Chief Executive of CPAG, said:

"Jamie Oliver has helped to put the issue of unhealthy school meals on the political agenda and the Government has responded positively with plans for tougher nutritional standards. But we need to go further to improve the diets of children inside and outside of school, by ending the relentless marketing of junk food to kids and improving food education.

"Poverty and poor diets are closely linked and for families on low incomes money can be an obstacle to affording decent, healthy food. The Child Poverty Action Group is pleased to be supporting the Children's Food Bill and we urge MPs to give the plans their full support. "

The Private Member's Bill is being proposed by Mary Creagh MP and already has the backing of thousands of concerned parents as well as 150 national organisations including CPAG, the British Medical Association, Cancer Research UK and the National Union of Teachers.

Mary Creagh MP added:

"MPs from across the country are backing the Children's Food Bill, to protect children from junk food marketing. These ad campaigns depend on 'pester-power' and use children's TV time to target kids as consumers even when they themselves can't buy products. We also need to teach our children how to use pots and pans and not just a tin opener."

For further information please contact:

Alex Belardinelli
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
abelardinelli@cpag.org.uk

Notes to editors:

1. The Children's Food Bill is a Private Member's Bill proposed by Mary Creagh MP (Labour, Wakefield). Its Second Reading will take place in the House of Commons on Friday 28 October.

2. Further information about the Children's Food Bill campaign is available at www.childrensfoodbill.org.uk