Nine UK mayors have pledged to remove so called “junk food” advertising on public transport to promote healthy eating in children.
As part of TV chef Jamie Oliver’s ‘AdEnough’ campaign, advertising for foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) will be put under what Oliver called “proper controls”.
This comes as Government recently announced it would ban HFSS advertising before 9pm on TV.
Jamie Oliver said: “If kids are constantly being targeted with cheap, easily accessible, unhealthy junk food, just think how hard it must be to make better, healthier choices. We have to make it easier for children to make good decisions.
“These ads undermine any positive work we’re doing in schools or at home to tackle the rise of childhood obesity. Currently, there’s nothing in place to protect our kids from seeing these adverts - apart from literally covering their eyes!”
“It’s so brilliant to see all the mayors stepping up, committing to this bold initiative and banning junk food ads in their public spaces.”
TV chef Jamie Oliver
The commitment means that Mayors introducing bus franchising powers will ban HFSS adverts over the coming years. The ban will be the same as the one introduced on Transport for London (TfL) in 2019.
Mayors in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and the West Midlands will all take part in implementing the ban.
