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| Junk food ad crackdown expected | Junk food ad crackdown expected |
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| A crackdown on junk food advertising on TV which targets children is set to be announced by regulators. | |
| The idea of restricting advertising was first proposed in public health plans unveiled by ministers two years ago. | The idea of restricting advertising was first proposed in public health plans unveiled by ministers two years ago. |
| Ofcom has spent 12 weeks consulting on three options to tighten restrictions on the timing and content of adverts. | Ofcom has spent 12 weeks consulting on three options to tighten restrictions on the timing and content of adverts. |
| But the regulator was heavily criticised by campaigners and the Food Standards Agency for not suggesting a total ban before a 9pm watershed. | But the regulator was heavily criticised by campaigners and the Food Standards Agency for not suggesting a total ban before a 9pm watershed. |
| Ofcom has said it is not necessarily the best option because it would restrict advertising to adults and cost the TV industry £240m in revenue. | Ofcom has said it is not necessarily the best option because it would restrict advertising to adults and cost the TV industry £240m in revenue. |
| Legal challenge | Legal challenge |
| However, the regulator has said it will listen to proposals put forward about a total ban after being threatened with a legal challenge by the National Heart Forum. | However, the regulator has said it will listen to proposals put forward about a total ban after being threatened with a legal challenge by the National Heart Forum. |
| One of the options consulted on was to ban junk food advertising during programmes specifically made for children. | One of the options consulted on was to ban junk food advertising during programmes specifically made for children. |
| It was also proposed that all food and drink products be banned during the same programmes - to avoid the problem of defining what should be classed as junk. | It was also proposed that all food and drink products be banned during the same programmes - to avoid the problem of defining what should be classed as junk. |
| The final option was to limit the amount of advertising shown to children, although ban it outright for programmes made for pre-school children. | The final option was to limit the amount of advertising shown to children, although ban it outright for programmes made for pre-school children. |
| Critics argued that that would only cut down on about half the advertising seen by children and, therefore, would have limited impact on the country's obesity crisis. | Critics argued that that would only cut down on about half the advertising seen by children and, therefore, would have limited impact on the country's obesity crisis. |
| It is estimated that 14% of children in England are clinically obese. | It is estimated that 14% of children in England are clinically obese. |
| In its submission to the Ofcom consultation, the Food Standards Agency said it supported a pre-9pm watershed on advertisements for products high in fat, salt or sugar as it "would offer a practical means of extending protection to older children and would be consistent with other broadcasting controls". | In its submission to the Ofcom consultation, the Food Standards Agency said it supported a pre-9pm watershed on advertisements for products high in fat, salt or sugar as it "would offer a practical means of extending protection to older children and would be consistent with other broadcasting controls". |
| The government has said it wants to see restrictions in place by next year. | The government has said it wants to see restrictions in place by next year. |