Last year, the British government passed regulations banning the advertising of foods high in fat, salt and sugar during children's programming. Ostensibly, regulators were trying to keep children from seeing this food, the thought being that the images shown on television were encouraging kids to eat unhealthy food. Now, a new study out of Newcastle University shows just how effective these bans have been.
The research shows that 6 percent of advertisements seen by children were about "junk" food before the ban. After the ban was implemented, that figure went up to seven percent.
Nice work, regulators.
This effort is afoot here in the United States. Last year, four federal agencies developed plans to regulate what food can be advertised during children's programming. Currently, those agencies are reworking their recommendations (after public outcry) but there's no doubt that the Obama administration will try to stop food companies from advertising their products.
And Americans can prepare for even higher food costs associated with these unnecessary (and ineffective) regulations.