Junk Food Advertising Banned in Spain

Spain is going one step further than their British counterparts by banning junk food advertising, regardless of the time of day, in an effort to confront their own growing obesity issue.

This is a step further than the UK government which has imposed a ban on pre-9pm TV adverts for food high in sugar, salt, and fat.

A total Spanish ban on junk food advertising - focusing on chocolate, biscuits, and ice cream among others - will be imposed to stop targeting children under-16 with marketing of these products on television and radio, in cinemas and on the internet, including social media and mobile apps.

Perhaps a glimpse into the future, the move is designed to combat obesity which is a big problem in the UK too.

Of the 1.4million 10 and 11-year-olds living in England, about 35% are overweight or obese according to recent analysis performed by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and the analytics consultancy LCP.

Public Health Minister Jo Churchill said: “We are committed to improving the health of our children and tackling obesity.

“The content youngsters see can have an impact on the choices they make and habits they form. With children spending more time online it is vital we act to protect them from unhealthy advertising.

“These measures form another key part of our strategy to get the nation fitter and healthier by giving them the chance to make more informed decisions when it comes to food.”