Children's Food Campaigners say: 'Well done on cooking lessons, now for junk food adverts.'

Commenting on the obesity strategy, Children's Food Campaign Coordinator Richard Watts said:  "We are delighted that the Government has recognised the need for all children to learn to cook in school.  Poor cookery skills are an important reason why some people have such a poor diet.  This announcement will make a real difference to children's health."

He continued:  "It is clear that some in Government, like Ed Balls, do recognise that the scale of the obesity crisis demands urgent action.

However, if it is true that the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) has won a battle within Whitehall to keep tougher rules on junk food marketing out of the obesity strategy, it leaves a very large hole indeed."

He continued: "Simply bringing forward an Ofcom review of their current advertising rules will not help children one iota.  Ofcom were responsible for the current fudged rules, which do not cover the majority of the programmes children watch most.  Until some in Government accept the need to put the physical health of children ahead of the economic health of industry we will not tackle the obesity crisis."

Over 50 organisations have written to MPs calling on them to protect children from junk food advertising and marketing. Organisations that have signed the letter include the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, The Prince's Trust, Diabetes UK, the National Union of Teachers and the National Obesity Forum.

The letter asks MPs to support the Food Products (Marketing to Children) Bill introduced by Nigel Griffiths MP.  The Bill protects children from all forms of advertising and marketing for junk food.

Peter Hollins, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation said: "Childhood obesity is one of the nation's most pressing public health issues.  Given the link between the marketing of unhealthy food to children and poor diets, there is the strongest possible case for further action to regulate marketing of unhealthy food to children."

Ends.

For further information please contact: Richard watts on 07710 782719 or 0203 5596 777.
 

Notes:

1. Over 100 MPs have already signed EDM445 in support of Nigel Griffith's Bill.  The full list is here: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34574&SESSION=891
2. A copy of the letter is attached.
3. 82 percent of parents support stricter controls on junk food and drink advertising that targets children, according to the recent BHF Food4Thought survey
4. The survey also found 64 percent of parents are concerned that junk food and drink advertising affects their child's food choices.
5. Until recently ministers were talking up the chances of tough rules on junk food marketing.  The key quotes are:
• Government Health Minister: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: said on 29 November, 2007:  "We believe that we must move forward, and we need a ban on all high-fat, salty and sugary foods before the 9 pm watershed."
• Health Secretary Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP said on 17 October, 2007: "In my view, the reason why advertising restrictions should go much further is that about 70 per cent. of children watch television programmes outside the traditional children viewing times. I think that that is making a big contribution and will make a bigger contribution, but it is just part of the answer."
• Now Prime Minister Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP said on 25 October, 2006 on GMTV, when talking about the childhood obesity crisis: "we have got to do something about television advertising before the watershed hour"
6. Research by Which? has shown just how ineffective the new
   rules on TV junk food advertising are.  The new rules will not affect advertising during 18 of the 20 commercial TV programmes most watched by children.
7. A 9pm watershed restriction on high fat, sugar and salt foods would reduce children's exposure to this type of advertising by 82%. Such a measure is supported by a broad coalition of health, children's and consumer groups as well as by Ofcom's own advisory committee for England, the Office of the Children's Commissioner, and the Food Standards Agency.  A British Heart Foundation / TNS poll found that 69% of parents supported a 9pm watershed.
8. The Children's Food Campaign wants to improve children's health and well-being through better food - and food teaching - in schools, and protecting children from junk food marketing.  We are supported by over 300 organisations and 12,000 members of the public.  The Children's Food Campaign is coordinated by Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

---

Children's Food Campaign
94 White Lion Street
London N1 9PF
21/01/2008

Dear (Member of Parliament),

Support the Food Products (Marketing to Children) Bill and sign EDM 445

We the undersigned support the Food Products (Marketing to Children) Bill, introduced by Nigel Griffiths MP, and urge you to support the Bill.  This legislation will:

• Introduce a 9pm watershed for television advertising of unhealthy food; and
  
• Protect children from other methods of marketing for unhealthy food.

The Bill's second reading is scheduled for Friday, 25 April.  We would be very grateful if you could confirm if you are able to offer the Bill your support by attending. 

It is no exaggeration to say there is a crisis in children's dietary health. Over a 10 year period the level of obesity among children has nearly doubled.  The recent Foresight report on obesity showed that, if current trends continue, 70 percent of girls and 55 percent of boys will be overweight or obese by 2050 unless we take effective action now.  Childhood obesity is associated with a multitude of other health problems, such as early onset type-2 diabetes, heart disease and an increased risk of cancer if obesity persists into adulthood.

The enclosed pamphlet 'Missing the Target', written by a range of experts from organisations that include the British Medical Association, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and the National Obesity Forum, articulates the case for the controls that Nigel Griffiths' Bill seeks to introduce.  It explains why the government's targets on stopping the rise of obesity have not been reached and emphasises the inadequacy of the controls currently in place. 

Research carried out by Which? found that 18 of the 20 programmes most watched by children are not covered by the current restrictions on junk food TV advertising.  Promotions for unhealthy foods appeared on all 18 programmes, seriously undermining the Government's efforts in tackling the childhood obesity epidemic across other areas. 

There is no one 'silver bullet' that will improve children's diets overnight. Making exercise a greater part of children's lives is important, as is parental responsibility. However, more effective regulation of the marketing of unhealthy food will play a key part in changing our food culture and improving our children's diets.  The proposals in this Bill are a vital part of any solution to solve the obesity crisis.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Mike Rayner; Chair, Children's Food Campaign
Sara Jayne Stanes; Director, Academy of Culinary Art
Christopher Clouder; Director, Alliance for Childhood
Dr Beckie Lang; , Association for the Study of Obesity
Dr Mary Bousted; General Secretary, Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Julia Neal; National President, Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Patti Rundell; , Baby Milk Action
Sue Ringwood; Chief Executive Officer, Beat – beating eating disorders
Bernard Jarman; Executive Director, BioDynamic Agriculture Association
Dr Richard Watt; British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry
Professor Damien Walmsley; Scientific Advisor, British Dental Association
Peter Hollins; Chief Executive, British Heart Foundation
Harpal Kumar; Chief Executive, Cancer Research UK
Joe Harvey; Chair, Caroline Walker Trust and Health Education Trust
Phil Lymbury; Chief Executive, Compassion in World Farming
Jo Butten, Consensus Action on Salt and Health
Jill Harrison; Director, Contact A Family
Simon Hart; Chief Executive, Countryside Alliance
Dr Nigel Carter; Chief Executive, Dental Health Foundation
Douglas Smallwood; Chief Executive, Diabetes UK
Mary Macleod; Family and Parenting Institute
Jessica Mitchell; Director, Food Commission
Victoria Williams; Food Matters
Michelle Berriedale-Johnson; Founder and Editor, Foods Matter
Vicky Hird; Senior Campaigner, Friends of the Earth
Sue Foreman; Hempsall Consultancies
Elaine Tilling; Institute of Health Promotion and Education
Daniel Burger; Jewish Child's Day
Dr Andrew McCulloch; Chief Executive, Mental Health Foundation
Jackie Schneider; Chair, Merton Parents for Better School Food
Lee Tomkins; , Migraine Action Association
Jo Butcher; Assistant Director Health and Well-being, National Children's Bureau
Silvia Owen; National Council of Women
Purnima Tanuku, National Day Nurseries Association
Fay Mansell; Chair, National Federation of Women's Institutes
Jane Landon; Deputy Chief Executive, National Heart Forum
Dr Colin Waine OBE; Chair, National Obesity Forum
Steve Sinnott; General Secretary, National Union of Teachers
Fiona Blacke; Chief Executive, National Youth Agency
Cathy Court; Director, Netmums
Andrew P. Dougall OBE; Chief Executive,, Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke
Lizzie Vann; Founder, Organix Brands
Alison Gehring; Senior Policy Officer, Royal Society for Health
Nicola Chalmers-Watson; Scottish Countryside Alliance Educational Trust
Fi Bird; Founder, Stirrin' Stuff
Fiona Hamilton-Fairley; CEO and Principle, The Kid's Cookery School
Ginny Lunn; Director of Policy and Development, The Prince's Trust
Angela Mawle; Chief Executive, UK Public Health Association
Christine Lewis; National Officer, UNISON
Juliet Gellatley; Director, Viva!
Rhys Evans; Welsh Consumer Council
David Smith; Welsh Food Alliance