Federal Food Minister Cem Özdemir is planning to ban advertising for unhealthy foods aimed at children and young people. A clear majority of Germans support this project.
According to a survey, a majority of Germans support the plans of Federal Food Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) to ban advertising for children with too much sugar, fat and salt by law. In a survey by the opinion research institute Kantar on behalf of the consumer organization Foodwatch, 66 percent approved of the plans, as reported by the editorial network Germany (RND/Montag). Foodwatch consumer protection expert Luise Molling told the RND that not only doctors, children’s rights and consumer organizations, but also a clear majority of German citizens consider advertising restrictions to be inevitable in order to combat malnutrition in children. Molling appealed to the FDP to support Özdemir’s plans.
Özdemir had proposed advertising bans in “all media relevant to children” – not just for children’s programs, but from 6 a.m. until late in the evening at 11 p.m. At the end of June he had specified the draft: The proposal is now that these advertising bans should apply on weekdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., on Saturdays also from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., he said.
The minister considers a legal regulation to be necessary because all previous voluntary commitments have failed. The Green politician sees himself encouraged by the survey. “Our draft law should take the next steps in a timely manner in order to be able to be advised broadly and with the involvement of all socially relevant actors,” Özdemir told RND. After the summer break, the expert hearing must now be initiated.
Source: Stern
