SubscribeJunk Food Ad Ban: Will It Work?
UK advertising regulator Ofcom has unveiled new restrictions for food and drink advertising. The rules aim to curb advertising of junk food targeted toward children.
Will the regulations make any impact?
The new rules (here) are complex.
Certain items will been labeled "HFSS" - foods that are considered high in fat, salt and sugar. This is where things get tricky - many fruits, for example, are high in sugar.
To prevent foods such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts from being vilified - the UK Food Standards Agency has created a nutrient profiling model (see it here). It uses a points system (in the style of Weight Watchers Points) to assess whether a food or drink can be classified as "less healthy".
This covers individual food products but what about brands?
There are loopholes. The ban will cover food products but not brands, allowing McDonald's or Coca Cola to promote their companies without mentioning burgers or sugary drinks. (src).The chief executive of Domino's Pizza made this reply:
"I don't understand how Ronald McDonald can get around this," he said.Will such legislation be effective or will it simply cause advertising agencies to be far more cunning?"Is it because he sells a salad on his menu? If that's the case we'll get around the rules by putting a salad on. I don't see why not. [...]
I have never seen fruits and vegetables advertised on European or American TV.
ReplyHo! Ho! Ho! - Green Giant Vegetables
A chiquita banana is a great banana and it's great because it's Dole, because it's Dole....
It would take - pan to gross looking liver, sprouts, etc. - much to equal the amount of vitamin C in a glass of Floria Orange juice
Tomato sauce, fruit roll-ups (crap if you ask me), snack-packs of fruit, quick-cook vegetable meals in a bag (microwave, convenience)....the advertisements are out there - I just wonder if we're all pretty immune to "seeing" them?
ReplyI've seen FRUIT of the loom on American TV :-)
ReplyForget diet pills, etc. They don't work in the long run. Fact is we live in a society that promotes an obese lifestyle. The corporations make tons of money selling us their cheap, highly processed foods and we live in corporate designed suburban ghettos that discourages travel except by car. They care nothing for the health of society and are motivated purely by greed - remember the tobacco companies?? If cannibalism was legal they'd be canning humans right now as I write.
ReplyThe fact is our corporate sponsored, N. American lifestyles are causing us to gain weight.. and its only through a lifestyle change that we can get the flab off. Personally I'm considering liposuction not because i think it could work but so I can mail the fatty goo the surgeon gets out of my fat belly to the CEOs of Pepsico and Burger King. The only way to lose weight is to get off your fat butt and exercise and eat only veges and fruit (with a helping of lean chicken once every two weeks.. forget the bacon.. make it history!). I know that in an environment that markets and hammers unhealthy choices into our brains such a lifestyle change is a huge challenge but consider this as a motivator... what better way is there to stick it to those corporate money pigs??!
This does sound really funny as McDonalds is known for it's burgers, freis, and nuggets. Seeing them advertise fruit and veggies does not sounds like a treat when going out to eat.
ReplyWell, they need to start advertising against the use of hydrogenated oils for now, especially towards fast and processed food companies for now.
Face it. Dispel the fact that fat and salt is bad for you, Some salt is needed in the diet, as well as some saturated fats.
As far as Trans fats go, thay arn't only bad for you, they are so bad, I view trans fats comparable to arsonic as far as what they do to your body. And if you think that saturated fats "are just as bad", well, they arn't.
Today, fast food chains deep fry burgers and potatos in partially hydrogenated oils. Eat a french fry, and damage will be done to your body. Now, deep frying french fries in saturated fats like beef tallow or palm oil is definintly healthier for you, but still not a full fledge health food. In fact, ANY fried food whether it's fries, fish, or beef, is bad for you.
And I do believe that trans-fatty junk foods need to be banned. But the other fact is, you can eat a little bit of pie or a piece of cake, so long as they don't put any hydrogenated oils in it.
So I have one advertisment that can go against these trans fat companies. Here's a few ads:
"Se what you can do to put Crisco out of your diet. Because trans fats are comparable to cigarettes in your diet. -For more information on the dangers of trans fats, call 1-800-NOTRANS, and we will gladly give you great nutritious alternatives to these harmful."
"Trans fats...Comparable to arsonic. Comparable to harmful drugs on the streets...Comparable to pesticides. -For more information, call 1-800-NOTRANS and will give you tips to taking trans fats out of your diet."
"Put hydrogenated oils in your food, and see for your self. Trans fats can really turn you upside down. For more information, call 1-800-NOTRANS. Because trans fats are so dangerous, it's no wander why all these heart attacks are happening in our country today."
I think that these types of ads will be the great thing now, since we are one of the worst countrys in the nation reguarding the use of these hydrogenated oils, reguarding of what foods we use. Heck, they even put trans fats in frozen fruits and veggies. I saw a bag of stir-fry that rich in vegtables and chicken and yet a cup of it contains 1.5 grams of trans fats, with partially hydrogenated soybean oil listed as one of the first few ingredients. Amazing how they can sneak stuff like that into what was healthy foods.
So for now, the most important thing to do is to read the ingredients before purchasing the product. Don't be doped into buying "so-called" health foods that do contain hydrogenated oils.
ReplyTrans fat (aka: "hydrogenated vegetable oil", "shortening", "maybe another legally sneaky term out there I'm unaware of") is used to extend the shelf life of foods... hence, with less spoilage the companies make more money.
Trans fat also make food "taste better" and encourage more eating and bigger portions (e.g. trans is used in McDonald's - and other fast food chains - french fries and burgers along with the huge amount of salt which is a fundamental taste enhancer.. not too mention a blood pressure switch). Hence, with more consumption the companies make more money.
Fast food divisions of the same companies that make the trans fat market to children specifically (much like the tobacco companies did before they were stopped.. and still do in 3rd world countries). And put an outlet at every major intersection and make it "really" convenient for parents to get their kids to eat when their tummies grumble. Get em early and you got a customer for life!.. and guess who makes more money... and its at YOUR expense both financially and physically.
Get the picture?!
People, corporations have entire divisions and budgets totalling billions of dollars per year all to get your brain hooked on eating MORE, one way or another. There is nothing different between the food and tobacco companies, they are subject to the exact same market influences and are selling you the same slow death. With that kind of marketing who has a chance?.. you can only do what you can and the lifestyle changes needed to really lose weight and keep it off is without doubt a huge challenge.. but NOT impossible... and some legislative changes would help!
ReplyAccording to Rachel Hartley of Nutracheck, it isn't only fast food that is high in fat and bad for us:
ReplyCoffee shop products can be as calorific and unhealthy as fast food
This is certainly an important step. The media sends people so many different messages. You can watch T.V. and see an advertisement for McDonald's one minute and an advertisment for a fitness machine in the next. It has to stop somewhere.
Replyfast food. taste damn good. but there's also something called moderation. i've lost 70lbs in 4 years and i still eat a burger TWICE A MONTH. i still dine out but i don't eat everything on my plate. when i do eat fast food, i make sure through out the day i eat fiber, drink tea, and eat fruit and other vegetables to balance it out. i think a lot of people just do not know how to eat a balanced meal throughout the day and therefore suffer.
if u are looking to increase ur fiber, cuz that alone helps u lose weight and lower cholestrol, try dried apricots, canteloupe, spinach, broccli, carrots and rasin bran. THEY ARE A GODSEND.
ReplyUmmm what the hell, the ads do not make the people go get the food, the people make the people go get the food, the more fast food things on TV, the less i will watch it, there for i will have more time to go outside and run around^^ but thats just me.
Replyiam looking for something to help me gain weight i have being 140 since i was 20 and very happy cared my weight very well.iam 36 now and weigh 115 i hate it i was in a car acc.1995and was very sick when i came out of the hopt.i was weighed 95lbs. from 140 ever since i have not been able to gaine weight.what will help me weigh more
ReplyMarievel,
ReplySee your family doctor and discuss it with them. They may want to run some tests or they may know why your weight is low. They can refer you to a nutritionist if warranted. I hope this is helpful.