The ASA will now have more control over online advertising
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The Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) new remit to control online advertising has been criticised by food campaigners
The Children’s Food Campaign have put down the new move saying that it will be too weak to protect children from junk food marketers.
The campaigners commented that food advertising and marketing, which is nearly always for unhealthy products, plays a vital role in influencing what children want to eat.
Christine Haigh, Children’s Food Campaign Coordinator, said, ‘Extending regulations to online marketing is years overdue. Sadly though, these voluntary standards lack the strength or enforcement measures needed to protect children from sophisticated junk food marketing.’
According to the Department of Health £838m was spent on food and drink advertising in the UK during 2007 so if the ASA want to control advertising then they might need to come up with a more powerful idea.
By Lauren King
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