S.Korea to restrict TV adverts for junk food

AFP Global Edition | 2010-01-19 18:10:36

<div><p>South Korea Tuesday announced curbs on television advertising for junk food in a bid to cut obesity and promote healthy eating among children.</p><p>Advertising of food high in fat, sugar and salt will be banned from all TV from 5 pm to 7 pm, the health ministry said, and will also be prohibited during children's programmes shown at any time.</p><p>The restrictions will apply to hamburgers, pizzas, instant noodles, chocolate and other candies and ice cream.</p><p>"The ban, to be enforced this month or in early February, applies to high-calorie, low-nutrient food, snacks and sweets," a ministry official in charge of food safety told AFP.</p><p>Official data showed more than one-third of ads aired during children's TV programmes were for food, mostly for sweets, instant noodles and soft drinks.</p><p>Consumer groups have called for stricter measures to protect children from junk food, saying one out of five children in South Korea is overweight.</p><p>In March last year the ministry banned the sale of junk food and drinks in schools and their neighbourhoods in a bid to tackle the growing problem of child obesity.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67280628&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>


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