Greens seek 'junk food' advert ban for kids

The Green Party has called for a ban on the advertising of "junk food" in an effort to combat child obesity in Ireland.

The party was announcing proposals aimed at reducing the problem and tackling the "significant health and social and economic costs" of it.

The Greens suggest the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) should ban advertising of junk foods to children under the age of 12.

"Failing this, there should be, at the very least, restrictions on the marketing of food products with sugar content higher than the recommended amounts for children," the party's spokesman on health, Mr John Gormley, said.

"Obesity is a chronic, debilitating condition associated with major morbidity and mortality [rates] and poses serious long-term health risks and costs, particularly in terms of cancer, heart disease and diabetes," he added.

Mr Gormley blamed poor dietary habits of children on aggressive food marketing and advertising campaigns.

He cited Irish paediatricians' estimates that 15 to 20 per cent of children in the State are clinically overweight.

The results of the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (1998) and the SLAN (Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes, and Nutrition) Health study (1998) commissioned by the Department of Health and Children showed 32 per cent of respondents reported a body mass index classifiable as overweight, and 10 per cent were classifiable as obese.

The Green Party also suggested a public awareness campaign encouraging television viewing for children to be controlled and thereby regulating their exposure to food advertising.