Posted on 01/26/2005 9:20:01 AM PST by jb6
Berlin, Jan 24 (IANS) They are colourful and children love them. But in an effort to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity, the European Union (EU) wants junk food advertisements on television to be banned.
Markos Kyprianou, the EU commissioner for health and consumer affairs, said he wants to see "clear labelling" of products and a significant reduction in the number of junk food advertisements directed at children, according to a report by German radio Deutsche Welle.
Kyprianou has warned makers of junk food - those products high in sugar, salt or fat content - that the EU will enforce strict regulations unless they agree to voluntary reductions in advertisements targeted at children.
According to a recent report, more than 50 percent of British children will be obese by 2020.
In Italy, 36 percent of nine-year-olds and in Spain, 27 percent of children and youth are overweight. In southern Europe, one in three children are clinically obese.
The EU estimates that up to eight percent of national health budgets are spent tackling what is quickly turning into a continental epidemic.
Kyprianou said cooperation with the food industry was crucial in altering European food habits because junk food companies are the fastest and most effective means to cutting out harmful ingredients.
In March, the 25-member EU is expected to announce a new arrangement with the food industry that will outline self-regulatory targets to go into effect by the end of 2005.
Ofcom, an official regulator of the EU, said 70 percent of children are exposed to junk food advertisements between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. - the so-called family time slots. The EU wants junk food commercials to be banned completely during these prime time slots.
According to Nielsen Media Research in Britain, which examined monthly estimates from TV stations, the estimated total amount of money spent by the top 10 food advertisers in 2003 was $41.4 million, an almost 40 percent increase on the previous year.
Over the past months, the European Commission has debated possible self-regulatory measures within the food industry to curb alarming obesity among children.
"The signs from the industry are very encouraging, very positive. But if this doesn't produce satisfactory results, we will proceed with legislation," Kyprianou said.
Isn't Socialism beautiful???
Europe is sure changing. You dont have to go to war anymore to take over other peoples countries. Just offer them a Euro Dollar and buy their sovereignty.
And Hildabeast just might win.
IMO advertisements should never be directed at children. This is just poor quality propaganda for young brains which cannot defend themselves. This particular case don’t have anything to do with socialism! I don’t understand how people can connect this case with socialism.
You are clearly an islamic hippy commmunist Europeon who wants to destroy America
ROTFL joke of the day?
lol
Yeh. There are a lot of reasons not to like the EU (and I should know) but this is not one of them. Something has to be done about obesity and good health and it is nt hapen on a local level so the Government will be forced to act.
Well then they can just run Viagra ads on Nickleodeon can't they.
It's American culture and profit that they want to eliminate. Next will be a ban on U.S. blue jeans.
I didn't expect you to be able to. Guess what, half the human race has an IQ below average, that same arguement you make could just as easily be made for them too. Where shall we stop on our acid trip of government control?
Either outlaw certain ingredients flat out as a health risk or run education programs on neutrition. Punishing businesses for selling legal products that consumes want because you take some elitist view of knowing what is best for everyone is purely unconservative, anti-capitalist and pro Socialism/Fascism.
Some how I figured at least one of you three would show up and try to defend this.
ping
ping
Oh yeah. The Government will solve all your problems. Did you just get off the train coming from Fantasy Land.
LOL
Obesity is endemic in the Western world. If our Government's did not do anything about it I would be worried.
I guess being on FR hasn't rubbed any capitalist notions off on you. You're still all about Government Control.
Read what our EU Polish chapter member has to say (Lukasz) in defense of this crap. Typical EU Leftist. It's all for the children, the government must step in, etc. Where have we heard that crap before?
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