Fresh call to tighten rules on junk food marketing

Published on Sunday 20 January 2008 21:01

CAMPAIGNERS yesterday called for a ban on all junk-food marketing aimed at children.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the Children's Food Campaign want rules on food packaging and online marketing to be tightened up.

Their joint survey of parents found two-thirds were unaware that some junk-food firms had developed online games aimed at children.

And more than half of the parents questioned did not realise that games and quizzes appeared on food and drink labels.

The two groups want the existing regulations extended to cover all forms of marketing aimed at children. They are calling for packaging, internet sites, product placement and sponsorship all to be included in marketing regulations.

The groups say the current regulation is limited and allows some forms of marketing to slip through the net.

Betty McBride, director of policy and communications for BHF, accused junk-food manufacturers of luring children to online playgrounds.

Commenting on rule changes proposed by the two groups, she said: "They have the potential to transform the supermarket experience for stressed parents and change the way future generations view food."

Nigel Griffiths, the Labour MP for South Edinburgh, supported the measures, saying: "By presenting a clear and realistic vision for curbing the marketing of unhealthy food products, this report underlines the responsibility we have to act."

The results are based on a poll of 1,069 parents.