Doctors call to ban junk food TV ads

Junk food adverts on television should be banned before the watershed, doctors say.

Pressure is growing on the Government today to address the issue of adverts targeted at children after the British Medical Association called for a pre-9pm ban.

Doctors at the annual conference on public health yesterday said children were bombarded with adverts for products that were extremely bad for their health, and it should stop.

The move comes after a report on obesity from the Health Select Committee criticised the food industry for using celebrities to endorse unhealthy products.

It emerged that fast food companies spend millions targeting children and trying to keep parents in the dark.

BMA public health chief Dr Peter Tiplady said he had been in touch with MPs "informally" and hoped a prewatershed ban would now become policy. He said stopping the adverts at 9pm would prevent food manufacturers from targeting children.

Dr Tiplady said: "This is going to be a very powerful message to the Government. We have had great success in the past on public health issues - our voice will be listened to."