Red light for junk food in TV ads

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Aiming at addressing the rise of childhood obesity in the UK, the government is planning to propose that advertising of junk food with high sugar, fat or salt content should display a red warning sign

The proposals, expected to appear in the government's White Paper on public health later this year, will mean all food advertising and packaging would display a "traffic light" system depending on the nutritional content of the food.

Food and advertising industries have strongly opposed calls for the ban, arguing that commercials are not the cause of Britain's so-called "obesity time bomb".

Ofcom, the communications watchdog, backed the industry's claims earlier this year saying an outright ban would be ineffective in tackling childhood obesity.

Banning junk food advertising before 9pm would spell the end for some commercial television networks, advertisers said. Food producers and retailers such as McDonald's spend a colossal £577 million every year on TV advertising and they say that helps keep some TV stations afloat.

"Some broadcasters will cease to exist," said Claudia Camozzi of the food advertising unit of the Advertising Association. "There's a bigger picture that needs to be considered."