MPs propose ban on outdoor junk food ads and mandatory healthy sales reporting

A group of MPs has called for a ban on outdoor junk food advertising and for supermarkets to be required to report their sales of healthy food, as part of a wider effort to tackle obesity. The report from the Health and Social Care Committee says the government must take bolder action to stop what it describes as the constant bombardment of promotions and adverts for unhealthy food in daily life.

Obesity remains stubbornly high, affecting almost a third of adults in England. The MPs argue that the current rules are not enough. They want loopholes closed in TV and online advertising before 9pm that still allow brands or ranges of unhealthy food to be promoted. They also call for restrictions on social media and a ban on all outdoor adverts on billboards and transport. In addition, they want ministers to stop delaying the introduction of mandatory reporting by major supermarkets of their healthy food sales.

The report highlights the cost of obesity to the UK, which it says is more than 70 million pounds every year. Campaigners, including two young women who have been fighting against junk food marketing since they were at school, say children's health must be a priority. One of them said: 'These are multi-million pound, massive companies who are so clever, so well-resourced, so talented and young people don't really stand a chance against them and for so long the responsibility and the burden has been shoved on young people, on their parents and that's not fair.'

Public health officials agree that a range of measures is essential. One said: 'We do know what we need to do and what we need is brave, bold policy action so that we can start to make a difference and shift this curve. It's never, ever going to happen if we focus on treating individuals who are already overweight or obese.'

The MPs also say that food businesses should not take part in government discussions about regulation. But representatives of food retailers disagree. One said: 'Well, it's for government to regulate and we're not against regulation. In fact, we support regulation like the mandatory healthy sales reporting, but businesses like supermarkets can add a lot to government. They've got great data and experience and they can make the regulation really effective and also enforceable.'

The government has welcomed the MPs' report. It said it had already taken significant action to restrict junk food advertising and promotions and to increase financial help for low-income families to buy healthy food.