Food4Thought

We're demanding a complete ban on all forms of marketing of junk food to children.

That's because we believe that junk food advertising aimed at children is contributing to rising rates of childhood obesity.

Children face hundreds of advertising messages every day, not just on TV, but on the internet, on packaging and in the texts they receive on their mobile phones.

A lot of this advertising is designed to reach children without their parents even knowing about it.

Did you know that children under 16 spend £13 million on sweets and snacks each week in the UK?

Junk Food and TV advertising

Junk food advertising is currently banned during childrens’ TV programmes. This may sound like great news but only one of the 20 programmes most watched by children is covered by this ban.

When children watch their favourite shows such as Coronation Street or X-Factor they’re being targeted by ads for unhealthy food. The influence of these junk food advertisers must end so that we can encourage children to make healthier choices and lower their future risk of developing heart disease.

What are we doing?

We’ve worked with the Children’s Food Campaign to produce a full regulatory proposal for how a ban on junk food marketing to children could be introduced. 

Download the Protecting Children report:

• Protecting children report - full version (PDF)
• Protecting children report - summary (PDF)

Find out about our Policy work in Parliament and in schools.

View our online and digital information campaign for parents and children.

What are junk food companies doing?

Junk food companies use children's websites, social networking sites, cinema advertising, competitions and free givaeways to familiarise children with their brand and encourage them to buy their products.

A lot of this advertising is designed to raech kids without their parents even knowing.

What are they up to and how can parents protect their children? Find out more.

Got any questions about this page?