| Friday, 17 November 2006 | |
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MP concerned that proposals on junk food advertising don't go far enough Dartford MP, Dr Howard Stoate, has criticised proposals put forward by the broadcasting regulators, Ofcom, to restrict the number of advertisements for foods high in fat, salt and sugar on TV.Dr Stoate, who is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity and a practicing GP, said: “Ofcom’s proposals don’t go nearly far enough in my opinion. I welcome the proposed ban on ads during children’s programmes, but I am disappointed that the ban hasn’t been extended to all programmes aired before the 9pm watershed.” The MP, who was one of the first MPs in Parliament to call for a complete ban on food advertising to children, went on to say: “Ofcom’s proposals won’t affect some of the popular programmes amongst children, such as soaps and quiz shows, and this will significantly undermine the impact of the ban. By extending the ban to the 9pm watershed – a cut-off point which all parents understand – the ban would become far more effective and meaningful in my view.” “If we are serious about tackling obesity in this country, then we have to be prepared to take strong and decisive action in this area. A pre 9pm ban won’t be popular amongst the food companies, but we have to ask ourselves what is more important to us: The right of food companies to advertise their products; or the health of our children?” Note Dr Stoate first called for a complete ban on TV food advertising to children in a 2002 pamphlet on children’s health for the Fabian Society called ‘All’s well that starts well’. |
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© 2008 Dr Howard Stoate - Member of Parliament for Dartford
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