Food: Advertising

(asked on 1st February 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he had made of the effectiveness of restrictions on food and drink advertising.


Answered by
Margot James Portrait
Margot James
This question was answered on 9th February 2018

We are committed to tackling childhood obesity and supporting people to make healthy choices.

Strict new rules came into effect on 1 July 2017 banning the advertising of HFSS food or drink products in children’s media. These restrictions apply across all non-broadcast media including in print, cinema, online and in social media.

In addition in August 2017 we announced £5 million investment in a policy research unit on obesity to provide a robust evidence, evaluation and research capability including looking at advertising and promotions.

Advertising is regulated by the independent Advertising Standards Authority and underpinned by consumer protection legislation. This system is independent of the Government. It is vital that the advertising codes reflect the best available evidence of the effect of advertising on the public, and are periodically reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose.

Reticulating Splines