Junk food ads are set to be banned before the 9pm watershed on TV with a total ban online, under plans outlined in the Queen's Speech today.
Part of the Health and Care Bill outlined in the Queen's Speech to MPs is "banning junk food adverts pre-9pm watershed and a total ban online".
A six-week consultation from the Department of Health and Social Care began in November 2020 to try and understand the impact of introducing a total ban on advertising junk food online.
However, the scope of the plans were labelled “insane” at the time by a think tank, which warned foods such as avocados, marmite, mustard and hummus could be affected, alongside fish and chips, and curry.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said at the time: “I am determined to help parents, children and families in the UK make healthier choices about what they eat."
In a debate last month, a Health Minister defended the government’s proposals to restrict junk food adverts, insisting they are “not banning food”.
Jo Churchill was questioned by MPs on what steps were being taken to limit the advertising of goods high in salt, sugar and fat to children.
In the House of Commons in April, Conservative former minister Andrew Selous asked: “Does the minister agree that ending junk food advertising online is hardly an outrageous assault on our freedoms, would remove 12.5 billion calories a year from children’s diets and allow advertisers and food companies to make plenty of money from producing and advertising healthy food?”
Ms Churchill replied: “We are not banning food.
“It is very important that we make the environment right to ensure that people can make the healthy choice as a default option and enjoy a healthy balanced diet, which they have the full knowledge and understanding of what it is that they’re purchasing.
“Actually I see this as a great opportunity for companies.”
