Advertising Restrictions on Less Healthy Food

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle Excerpts

Monday 14th July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

We all know that the issues in the area of obesity are complex. The professor has laid out a compelling piece of research. We will continually review all the information available in this space. Obesity has a huge personal cost to children and to adults as they grow older, and also to society and the health department. It is essential that we get this right. As things stand, this is our policy and we are moving forward on it.

[Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP)]

My Lords, the Minister appears to have answered by omission the part of the Question about whether there will be an impact assessment. Does she acknowledge that there are a number of brands for which the whole product range is, in essence, junk food, and that adding the occasional plastic sachet of apple slices or sugar-ladened fruit smoothie does not alter the fact that those brands being advertised will have a negative impact on our children?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

As I said in my Answer, that was not in scope, so we cannot have an impact statement. That is the point we are trying to get over. Things are changing, and we know that there will be attempts to bring in other products, and so we have to be vigilant. That is why we are updating our nutrient profile model, making sure that we keep a close eye on exactly what is happening and how we can best protect future generations.