Health
UK MPs call for ban on fast food outlets near schools and junk food advertising to tackle obesity
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UK MPs call for ban on fast food outlets near schools and junk food advertising to tackle obesity
The Commons health committee has urged ministers to give local councils powers to block fast food openings near schools and ban outdoor advertising of unhealthy foods.
- The committee said the government should stop giving in to food industry lobbying and ban fast food outlets near schools and junk food advertising on billboards and public transport.
- The committee said the Labour government has not followed through on pledges to introduce policies to tackle bad diets.
- Layla Moran, the committee chair, said ministers must give local authorities the power to fight fast food chains.
- The Advertising Association said advertising restrictions would not reduce obesity, citing decades of research.
What happened since
UK MPs propose excluding food industry from obesity policy and banning junk food ads
A cross-party health committee has recommended mandatory reporting on healthy food sales and a ban on outdoor advertising of high-fat, salt, and sugar foods.
- The health select committee’s report to parliament argues that preventing obesity requires radical regulation of food markets.
- MPs proposed excluding food businesses selling a high share of unhealthy products from shaping food and obesity policy.
- The report recommends a ban on outdoor advertising of foods high in fat, salt, and sugar by July 2027.
- The committee also proposes binding targets for large retailers to report healthy product sales, with fines for non-compliance.
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