Chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall adds his voice to campaign to ban junk food adverts on TV before 9pm

  • Boris Johnson is facing calls to ban junk food TV advertisements before 9pm
  • Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall now joins the list of celebrities in the campaign
  • Rower James Cracknell, model David Gandy and two Tory MPs want the ban 

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has added his voice to the campaign to ban junk food adverts on TV before 9pm.

The television chef is urging Boris Johnson to take action to back up the Government’s battle against obesity.

Rower James Cracknell, model David Gandy and Conservative MPs Dr James Davies and Andrew Selous have also added their support for the ban.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (pictured) us urging Boris Johnson to take action to back up the Government’s battle against obesity by banning junk food adverts on TV before 9pm

They are backing teenage-led campaign group BiteBack2030, which has sent a letter to the Government calling for curbs on junk food advertising.

Mr Johnson is expected to launch a drive to urge Britons to lose weight next week after he reportedly blamed his own weight for landing him in intensive care after he caught coronavirus.

The letter says: ‘Teens everywhere are being manipulated into eating food that is bad for them. 

‘During the day, 50 per cent of food adverts are for HFSS (high in fat, salt or sugar) food, rising to 60 per cent from 6 to 9pm. They want an end to this relentless marketing.’ 

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall said more must be done to hit the Government target of halving child obesity by 2030

The TV chef says the solution is to reduce the exposure of junk food to young children 

Campaigners are also demanding action on online marketing and promotions in shops.

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall said more must be done to hit the Government target of halving child obesity by 2030. 

He said: ‘You’ve got to be much more systematic, you’ve got to reduce the pressure and exposure on young children to junk food advertising if you’re going to get them to eat healthier food.’

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