Child obesity measures condemned by MPs

The childhood obesity crisis is likely to become far worse without measures to curb the discounting of junk food and adverts for unhealthy snacks before the watershed, MPs have said.

The Government’s Childhood Obesity Plan included a sugar tax on soft drinks but stopped short of implementing further measures called for by the health select committee. These include penalties for companies that refuse to cut sugar content, clearer labelling, and powers to limit fast-food outlets. Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, the committee chairman, called the plan “vague” and said it missed “important opportunities”.