The ban on junk food advertising on London’s public transport has improved citizens’ eating habits. After restrictions were introduced in February 2019, household food consumption took on a better nutritional profile. So concludes research led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and published in PLOS Medicine. (1)
Ban on junk food advertising
Researchers compared more than 5 million HFSS(High in Fat, Sugar, Salt) food acquisitions from 1,970 distinct families in two groups. The first group consists of London residents (977 households), monitored in pre- and post-ban consumption (for 10 months). The second, used for the postintervention comparison, resides instead in northern England.
Among the foods and beverages purchased during the study, 38.4% (1,952,083 packages) were classified as junk food or HFSS.
The result of the research
Comparison of purchases showed that in comparison with consumption prior to the marketing ban in London’s public transport, nutrients from HFSS foods decreased:
-6.5% (57.9g) fat,
-7.3% (26.4g) saturated fat,
-10.9% (80.7g) sugars. A higher result than that achieved with the sugar tax, the researchers point out.
Calories decreased by 19.4 percent (-317.9 kcal).
Uk policies against obesity and overweight
The ban of advertising HFSS foods on London’s public transport network is just one of the policy interventions implemented to counter the epidemic of obesity and overweight, including in children, with 4.2 percent affecting children aged 10 to 11 years, with a clear prevalence in disadvantaged areas. (2)
Not surprisingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) has chosen the UK model to combat the obesity epidemic in the Old World. (3) An emergency condition to which Italy is no stranger, with 1 in 4 children at risk. (4)
Marta Strinati
Notes
(1) Yau A, Berger N, Law C, Cornelsen L, Greener R, Adams J, et al. Changes in household food and drink purchases following restrictions on the advertisement of high fat, salt, and sugar products across the Transport for London network: A controlled interrupted time series analysis. PLOS Medicine. 17.2.22. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003915
(2) Dario Dongo, Giulia Baldelli. Childhood obesity. The British example for Italy. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade) 1.11.18 %C3%
(3) Marta Strinati. WHO chooses UK model to reduce calorie and sugar intakes in the Old Continent. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade) 2.10.21
(4) Dario Dongo, Sabrina Bergamini. Childhood obesity, 1 in 4 children at risk in Italy. Istat Report. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 29.10.19
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
