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New public health measures are being drawn up by ministers to prevent illness and ease pressure on the NHS, including a ban on junk food advertising and increasing efforts to stop children accessing and consuming high-caffeine energy drinks.
If passed the measures would see Junk food advertisements banned from television before a 9pm watershed. The plans include all online ads for products that are high in fat, salt, and sugar being banned completely. Both measures are intended to tackle childhood obesity, and would come into force in 2025.
Evidence of the new direction of travel was apparent last month when an advert for the takeaway delivery service Just Eat that featured a McDonald’s burger was banned for not taking sufficient care to ensure that it was not aimed at children under 16.
Plans to ban children from buying high-caffeine energy drinks were detailed in Labour’s pre-election manifesto and now form part of the same public health drive anticipated to be announced as early as next month.
In the coming months, the government additionally plan to enforce a strengthened tobacco and vapes bill, extending the indoor smoking ban to pub beer gardens. Keir Starmer has not ruled out the idea of smoking being banned in some outdoor spaces, including pub gardens, outside restaurants, and all public buildings as ministers consider fresh tobacco curbs that some in hospitality warn would adversely affect the sector and lead to closures.
Starmer delivered a speech at the King’s Fund yesterday following a report by Lord Darzi, a former health minister, where he stated his belief that the health service was “in critical condition” after fourteen years of neglect by successive conservative governments.
Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting have both made it clear they want the NHS to take a proactive role on prevention, including a new health check programme in workplaces.
Starmer is under pressure from some quarters, including Henry Dimbleby, a former children’s commissioner for England and the architect of Boris Johnson’s food plan, which Johnson ignored. Johnson and Sunak both promised bans on junk food advertising but reneged on action. Starmer clearly want’s no such repeat of inaction.
It is understood that Dimbleby, co-founder of the Leon restaurant chain, has advised Starmer to regulate the food industry forcing it to make its products healthier. In a news conference Dimbleby said: “If we are to move from treating sickness to preventing it, it is essential that we change the way we eat. Now is the opportunity for the government to introduce policies to ensure that everyone can access the foods needed to keep them healthy, and that the food industry is regulated to stem the relentless flow of junk food that has become a lethal cultural norm.”
Research by the Food Foundation points to bad diet causing a record amount of disability among people across the UK who are obese. The Food Foundation champions changing food policy and business practice to ensure everyone, across the UK nations, can afford and access a healthy and sustainable diet.
Further indication of the new government’s direction of travel came earlier this week when Michael Barber, head of the delivery unit in Tony Blair’s government between 2001 and 2005, was appointed Keir Starmer’s adviser on effective delivery.
We do not allow copying of our content which is subject to copyright. Royalty Payments and access to our content is via:
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Lonsdale Gardens
WC2H 9JQ
Tunbridge Wells
Tel: 01892 525273