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Christopher Snowdon responds to new consultation on junk food

Commenting on the launch of the new consultation to ban ‘junk food’ advertisements, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs Christopher Snowdon said:

“If politicians can agree on nothing else at the moment, they are united by their desire to ban things. The Government’s domestic agenda seems to have been outsourced to Jamie Oliver. The result is, once again, illiberal.

“The idea of banning food advertisements to stop people eating too much is absurd. If it is safe enough to eat, it is safe to be shown on television.

“The policy will punish commercial broadcasters and achieve nothing. It is a sledgehammer to miss a nut.”

Restrictions on adverts for food high in fat, sugar and salt: public asked for views

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Media Enquiries

For media enquiries please contact Kate Andrews, Associate Director: kandrews@iea.org.uk, 07476 915 072

Further IEA Reading:

‘What is junk food?’ A briefing by Christopher Snowdon.

The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems and seeks to provide analysis in order to improve the public understanding of economics.

The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.