Khan unveils plan for junk food advert ban on all public transport
JUNK food advertisements will be banned on buses, trains and on the London Underground in sweeping plans drawn up by the capital’s mayor.
Sadiq Khan has published proposals which mean posters for food and drink that is high in fat, salt or sugar would not be allowed on any part of the transport network.
He urged ministers to introduce such plans across the whole country, saying it was a “scandal” that so many children were growing up overweight and obese.
London has one of the highest child obesity rates in Europe, with almost 40 per cent of children aged 10 and 11 overweight or obese.
More than half of children in some parts of the capital are leaving primary school overweight.
Children from poorer areas of the capital are disproportionately affected, with young people in Barking and Dagenham almost twice as likely to be overweight as children from Richmond.
The mayor is consulting on proposals to ban advertisements across the entire Transport for London (TFL) estate, also including bus shelters.
The groundbreaking plans are a key part of the mayor’s draft London Food Strategy, published today for consultation.
He had already proposed a ban on new hot food takeaways opening within 400m of schools.
Mr Khan said: “Child obesity in Lon- don is a ticking time bomb and I am determined to act. If we don’t take bold steps against it we are not doing right by our young people as well as placing a huge strain on our already pressurised health service in years to come.
“It can’t be right that in a city as prosperous as London where you live and the income you have can have a massive impact on whether you have access to healthy, nutritious food and your exposure to junk food advertising.”
Later this year the Government is expected to publish an updated strategy on childhood obesity.
Ministers are considering calls for actions including a ban on junk food advertising before 9pm, restrictions on takeaways near schools, and measures to restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods.