Expert calls for total junk food ban to stop obesity 'catastrophe'

Junk food advertisements which target children should be completely banned, an obesity expert has warned.

Professor Philip James says that drastic action is needed against food firms which he says exploit consumers in the same way as tobacco companies.

The nutritionist from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told a conference in London: "We have a catastrophic obesity epidemic and the food industry has had a vast impact on society. The food industry is represented by companies like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and Cadbury which are damaging the health of people across the world.

"We want to reform [the food industry's] behaviour and the way they respond is by mirroring tobacco [companies]. They're focused on the Third World for the next raft of profits."

Professor James, chairman of the International Obesity TaskForce, also attacked the Government for inviting fast food companies to join healthy living campaigns. Ministers have introduced curbs on TV advertising of foods to children, especially products high in salt, sugar and fat and new rules ban junk food advertisements on television before 9pm.

But Professor James wants a complete ban on unhealthy foods on TV and the internet as well as a ban on the use of "child-friendly" logos on supermarket food.

A spokesman for Cadbury said: "We only market to adults."