Open letter to Secretaries of State on junk food
Following yesterday’s new laws around junk food advertising, we have signed an open letter to the Government, organised by the Obesity Health Alliance, calling for tighter regulations.
The letter also warns that restricting the rules to TV and online advertising risks displacement into other channels, particularly outdoor advertising, and could further widen health inequalities.
In the letter, which has been signed by over 50 members including the British Heart Foundation, British Medical Association, Diabetes UK, Nesta, Sustain, British Dietetic Association and many more, we have raised concerns about exemptions for brand advertising, the limited range of products and media covered, and the continued use of the outdated 2003/04 Nutrient Profiling Model.
As part of the Alliance, we are therefore urging the Government to see this as the first step towards ending all junk food advertising, and strengthen the regulations by:
- Using the 2018 Nutrient Profiling Model.
- Expanding product categories.
- Removing brand exemptions.
- Planning next-phase ad regulations.