JUNK FOOD BAN THREAT TO CHIPPIES
Crackdown on social media ads
THOUSANDS of our favourite chippies and takeaways are under threat because of a new crackdown on junk food.
Business owners fear an extended advertising ban will be a killer blow for their sales on top of losses they are suffering because of the pandemic.
Ministers have unveiled plans to ban TV ads for unhealthy food before the 9pm watershed.
Now they want to go further and outlaw all adverts – including on social media – for high fat, sugar and salt products.
Takeaway bosses are alarmed and have said it could be the death knell for thousands of small businesses.
Andrew Crooks, of the British Takeaway Campaign, warned it would “punish” thousands of small, independent eateries already reeling from the effects of the coronavirus crisis. The
Government says it wants to protect children online and believes stricter rules could lead to 120,000 fewer obese and overweight kids in Britain.
But chippy owners say many local outlets advertise on social media and rely on it for people’s orders during the pandemic. Mr Crooks, who owns a chippy, called for independent takeaways, kebab shops and curry houses with fewer than five outlets to be exempt.
He said: “These local businesses do not have multi- million pound TV marketing campaigns. Social media is their shop window, especially when we’re in and out of lockdown.
“Removing their ability to advertise robs them of a crucial way to reach customers when nobody knows what the future holds and takeaways continue to have a vital role in keeping the nation fed.”
They say 65% of outlets offer low- fat options and 59% have products that are lower in salt. There are about 10,500 chippies, 8,500 curry houses and 20,000 kebab shops in the UK. Most are privately run, whereas burger and fried chicken outlets are often run by chains.