The Mayor of London has announced that junk food advertising will be banned on the entire Transport for London (TfL) network from 25 February 2019.
It is an attempt to reduce child obesity in the capital as almost 40% of children in London are overweight or obese.
The London Assembly Health Committee welcomes this decision and challenges the Mayor to go even further.
Dr Onkar Sahota AM, Chair of the Health Committee said:
“This is a step in the right direction. It’s a relief to see the Mayor making bold steps to tackle childhood obesity.
“It is a scandal both in London and nationally that our children are clinically obese and developing serious illnesses like type 2 diabetes. Something that for decades has been associated with old age.
“By banning this kind of advertising on all transport in London, we hope this will be another tool to reduce the allure of junk food to children in the capital.
“However, if the Mayor is serious about reaching his targets then we urge him to make even bolder steps like banning takeaway shops near schools, continuing to challenge the food industry to make food healthier, and to work on the income inequality that makes it difficult for parents to afford existing healthy food.
“With these kind of measures in place we can prolong the lives of our children and in some cases save them.”
Notes to editors
- Onkar Sahota AM, Chairman of the Health Committee, is available for interview – see contact details below.
- London Assembly Health Committee
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Funmi Olutoye on 020 7084 2713. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.