Ministers are anticipated to launch a session which can contemplate the transfer to outlaw such ads on tv and radio, in response to a report by the Daily Telegraph.
Websites might additionally face harder restrictions within the plans outlined and agreed final week by the Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
There are already bans in place for promoting round youngsters’s TV programmes, however the paper says ministers are nonetheless involved that “significant amounts” of adverts are selling meals and drinks excessive in sugar.
Additionally, analysis from broadcasting watchdog Ofcom instructed children watch programmes not supposed for them for a mixed 64% of their TV viewing time.
Junk food producers plough £143 million yearly into promoting within the UK, whereas solely £5 million is spent by the federal government on adverts selling wholesome consuming, in response to the Obesity Health Alliance.
Eating healthily, by limiting sugar consumption and consuming loads of real-food, can assist to decrease the danger of weight problems and sort 2 diabetes in addition to different well being issues.
Cancer Research UK final yr revealed that children aged six and over who watch one further junk food advert each seven days can find yourself consuming an additional 18,000 energy annually.
Children who’re overweight have a 5 instances better danger of turning into chubby adults, whereas their possibilities of growing sort 2 diabetes and most cancers are a lot increased.
This pre-watershed ban on junk food on TV promoting might be introduced in by adjustments to current guidelines quite than introducing new laws, however a brand new regulation would have to be introduced in to cowl the web as a result of it’s unregulated.
Media consumption habits are altering with Ofcom revealing that four to 15-year-olds are spending 43% much less time watching tv than in 2010, with web use growing by 44% to four.7 hours per week.
“The move could lead to the advertising budgets being deployed digitally instead, including by Facebook and Google.”
Some of the UK’s main broadcasters – together with ITV, Sky and Channel 5 – have raised considerations that this junk food promoting ban would financially injury their business.
