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| Britain |
| UK Junk food television adverts to be banned |
| 2004-11-14 |
| MINISTERS are to announce tough curbs on television adverts for "junk food" up to the 9pm watershed in an attempt to combat an epidemic of obesity among children. John Reid, the health secretary, will this week warn the food industry that he will bring in legislation banning junk food adverts unless firms agree to voluntary restrictions by 2007. The crackdown for products high in fat, salt or sugar is far wider than anticipated by the industry, which believed restrictions would target only afternoon children's television. However, Reid will argue that research by Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator, shows more than 70% of viewing by children aged four to 15 is between 6pm and 9pm. The crackdown follows research showing 18% of children are overweight and a further 6% obese. Children are also for the first time being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, a disease previously only associated with those over 40. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has drawn up guidelines defining what it considers unhealthy levels of fat, sugar and salt in products. For fat, it is any product with 20g per 100g; for sugar 10g; and for salt 0.5g |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #6 Um, Phil, just mix up your own. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-11-14 4:31:21 PM |
| #5 There is most definitely a problem. Obesity is arguably the biggest health problem in the Western world. Censorship is definitely not the answer. It's impossible to buy any kind of prepared food that doesn't have added sugar, often a lot. It drives me crazy trying to find foods that don't. I nearly went postal in the grocery store the other day after having read the ingredients on every type of prepared curry sauce in the store (about 50) and they all had significant amounts of added sugar. I was at the point of throwing jars on the floor and was only stopped by my daughter saying "Lets buy this one dad. It has the least sugar." |
| Posted by: phil_b 2004-11-14 2:32:20 PM |
| #4 with french-fried taters. I like them french-fries taters...mmmhhmmm |
| Posted by: Sling Blade 2004-11-14 2:04:06 PM |
| #3 Hmmmm..... virtue! Is there any food better than a Whataburger with Jalapenos at 2 a.m. in a pick up truck chased down by a Bud and followed by a Salem? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-11-14 1:59:01 PM |
| #2 Woohoo! Just imagine the bribe potential for the top mgmt of the FSA - those who decide what is and isn't "junk" food... |
| Posted by: .com 2004-11-14 9:47:12 AM |
| #1 More crushing of free speech by The Virtuous. F'ing Wankers. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2004-11-14 7:37:19 AM |