Junk food advertising ban is failing children, MPs hear

Rules introduced to prevent advertising of unhealthy “junk” food to children are too limited and are failing to stop children seeing such advertisements, experts and campaigners have told MPs.

MPs on the parliamentary health and social care committee quizzed academics, industry figures, and third sector groups during an evidence session on 8 May for their inquiry into childhood obesity.

Rules enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority mean that advertisements for high fat, sugar, or salt products cannot be targeted at under 16s on any media. The authority has panels charged with developing codes of conduct for UK advertisers in this area—the Committee of Advertising Practice …