Promoting Healthy Food for Children

Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs has announced that it will ban advertising for unhealthy foods and drinks that are aimed at children and adolescents via TV, radio and social media. Some of the Products included in the ban are chocolate, candy, cookies, desserts, juices and ice cream. These products will be completely banned all day on TV channels that are specifically for children. The department will regulate which products will be allowed to advertise on regular channels during times when children are most likely to be watching. Social media sites will not be allowed to target children under sixteen with food advertisements.
The consumer affairs minister, Alberto Garzón, explained that the so-called “Paos Code,” which the food industry had used for self-regulation since 2005, “has been shown to be insufficient.” He says “These measures are necessary to reduce the alarming rates of childhood obesity in Spain.” Recent studies have shown that 40% of children aged six to nine are above their recommended weight - 23% are seriously overweight and 17% are obese. “Too many children in Spain are overweight, and advertising is one of the main causes.”