Parents would back ban on food ads aimed at kids

[The Straight Story]

Parents would back ban on food ads aimed at kids

Parents want TV ads that promote unhealthy food and drink to children banned, according to a survey commissioned by a heavyweight health group.

The poll, on behalf of the Chronic Disease Prevention Peak Group, found that 82 per cent of 401 parents and grandparents agreed or strongly agreed that advertising unhealthy products "using ads appealing to children" should be stopped.

But there is less support for a blanket ban on all television advertising of food and drink products to children. Only 49 per cent wanted a ban on all products, healthy or not, during children's viewing hours.

Diabetes New Zealand, the National Heart Foundation, Cancer Society, Stroke Foundation and Te Hotu Manawa Maori are all members of the group.

Peak spokesman Professor Norman Sharpe said that a third of those aged 5 to 14 were overweight or obese and advertisers were experts at targeting children.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=87&objectid=10493045

[wuushew]

1. Got enough "X banned" posts gumming up GD?

Are you looking to start some sort of libertarian jihad or something?

[The Straight Story]

2. I don't make the news, I just post it here

Banning seems to be in fashion these days (well, banning things we do - seems like more and more we keep giving bush more power and the ability to do things while restricting what we can do).

[flvegan]

3. Funny.

'He wouldn't name the brands that were the worst offenders but said that although businesses such as McDonald's had changed their menus to include fruit and milk, "they're still advertising, they're still hooking children into their products".'

Any group that advocates the use of milk obviously lacks honest nutritional training.

Don't ban...educate. I see lots of ads every day, and I'm still not hitting the local fast food joint nor will I be voting McCain.

[fed-up]

4. I'd be happy if they quit marketing drugs ads to adults (and kids who are also watching) nt