In a significant move to address rising childhood obesity rates, the UK government has announced a ban on junk food advertisements set to take effect in October 2025. The new legislation will prohibit TV ads for unhealthy food products before 9 pm and restrict paid online junk food advertisements.
This initiative aims to reduce children’s exposure to foods high in fat, sugar, or salt, potentially removing 7.2 billion calories annually from UK children’s diets. Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the importance of this action, stating it’s “the first step to deliver a major shift in the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention.”
The ban is part of a broader strategy to improve children’s health, with the government planning to publish a 10 Year Health Plan in spring 2025. For more details on this legislation, visit the UK government’s official announcement.