CHEF’S CALL ON ADS FOR JUNK FOOD
TELLY chef Jamie Oliver has warned Boris Johnson that dropping plans to ban online junk food adverts will hit his obesity fight.
The star, 45, has teamed up with doctors and health charities to fight plans to shelve the ban.
Binning ads on foods high in sugar, salt or fat before the 9pm watershed on TV and online was part of a bid to make the nation fitter.
But the PM, who has been on his own fitness drive following his
Covid-19 battle, is said to have had a change of heart.
It’s thought he has listened to food industry claims it would lead to kids eating just a measly 1,124 fewer calories a year.
It is also feared businesses would lose hundreds of millions of pounds.
Jamie, model David
Gandy and more than 90 doctors and other experts, in a letter to Mr Johnson, said: “Inequalities in rates of overweight and obesity amongst children are increasing, along with stark inequalities in other dietrelated conditions such as dental decay.
“In order to ensure every child has the best start in life, this must be addressed.
“Allowing the online environment to continue to be flooded with adverts for fast-food, crisps and confectionery limits the need for industry to change its behaviour and will significantly undermine efforts to improve public health.”
Ministers had planned to ban digital ads, paid-for Google search results, promoted tweets and sponsored social media influencing for unhealthy food.
Caroline Cerny, of the Obesity Health Alliance, said dropping the ban would be putting the “junk food industry ahead of children’s health”.