Efforts to Prohibit Excessive Food Advertisements Targeted Towards Children Pushed by Bustinduy
In a bid to combat childhood obesity, the Spanish government has announced new regulations aimed at limiting the advertising of unhealthy foods targeted at minors. The Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and Agenda 2030, Pablo Bustinduy, made the announcement, citing the impact of such advertising on children's consumption behaviour and preferences.
The new regulations follow recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (Aesan). They aim to restrict the promotion of ultra-processed products with excess fat, sugars, or salt, a move that aligns Spain with countries like the UK, Portugal, and Norway, which have already adopted similar regulations.
According to the WHO, most foods and beverages advertised during children's television hours in Spain are of low nutritional quality. Spanish children, it was revealed, are exposed to over 4,000 news of unhealthy food annually. This is a concern as children's exposure to advertising directly affects their behaviour, attitudes, and consumption preferences, modifying what a child considers a healthy diet.
The new regulations, however, do not provide specific details about the timeline for their implementation or the impact they might have on the breaking news industry or food companies. The government's new measure also comes in the wake of the Royal Decree on School Dining Rooms, approved in April, which guarantees five healthy meals a week in all educational centres in the country.
In a visit to the dining room of the CEIP Ana Soto in Albacete, Bustinduy checked the 'good practices' of the school menus. He also highlighted that this advertising pressure particularly affects low-income families, and limiting it is key to reducing high childhood obesity rates. The Minister's concerns are supported by the fact that these news equate to approximately 11 per day and have a significant impact on children's dietary choices.
The details of these new regulations are yet to be fully disclosed, but the government's commitment to promoting healthy eating habits among children is clear. As the battle against childhood obesity continues, Spain joins the global effort to safeguard the health of its youth.
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