William Eichler 22 May 2025

Public health officials ‘disappointed’ by junk food ad ban delay

Public health officials ‘disappointed’ by junk food ad ban delay image
© Tatjana Baibakova / Shutterstock.com.

Local authority directors of public health have voiced their disappointment in response to the Government’s decision to delay the ban on junk food advertising.

Plans to ban junk food ads on TV before 9pm followed by an online ban in October have now been postponed until 5 January, 2026.

The delay follows disagreement between food and advertising industry bosses and ministers over the ban’s guidance.

The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) said it was ‘extremely disappointed’.

Greg Fell, ADPH president said: ‘89% of deaths in England?are caused by illnesses and disease which are linked to the consumption of unhealthy food and drink. The simple fact is that these deaths including from many cancers, respiratory, heart and liver disease, are preventable.’

‘There is no quick fix, but we know from our experience of tackling tobacco harm, that one of the key ways to reduce illness and death caused by harmful products is to introduce tighter restrictions on advertising those products,’ he added.

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