The Irish Heart Foundation is calling on the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to ban the advertising of foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) to children from 6am to 9pm.
 
According to the national charity fighting heart disease and stroke, the diet and health of Irish children continues to be a major public health concern with overwhelming evidence of the impact of advertising foods on their health.
 
You can support this call for action by making your own submission to the BAI. If you would like to send in a submission to the BAI, you can use the full template or simply the first paragraph.
 
Responses can be sent by post or email to the address below:
 
Sinéad Owens
Children’s Code Consultation
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
2-5 Warrington Place
Dublin 2
 
The case for the 6am – 9pm ban:
  • 1-4 primary school children and 1 in 5 teenagers aged 12 -17 years are overweight or obese.
  • Overweight and obesity are themselves risk factors for cardiovascular disease - the leading cause of death in Ireland among all ages and accounting for about 2,000 premature deaths.
  • Irish children and young people are showing early signs of other risk factors such as increasing levels of blood pressure, cholesterol and higher blood sugar/insulin levels, leading to Type 2 diabetes.
  • Overall the diet of Irish children is high in fat, sugar and salt.
  • Most of the foods advertised to children are high in fat, sugar and salt, contrasting sharply with the recommended diet.
  • There is robust and compelling evidence which links the marketing of food HFSS to children and specifically television advertising to poor diets and obesity.
Michael O’Shea, Chief Executive, Irish Heart Foundation says: “It is now the responsibility of Irish people, health and consumer groups to respond to the BAI with their views on this important issue. In 2008, 4 in 5 Irish parents said they would support a ban on TV ads for foods HFSS until 9pm. Let us hope that this can be brought into effect to protect children’s health and create a more supportive environment.”

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