According to sources the union government said there is no proposal at present to ban advertisements of junk food on television. However, nine major food business operators have decided not to advertise products containing high fat on children’s channels out of their own volition.
Meanwhile according to report Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, told the Lok Sabha during Question Hour that bodies like the Food and Beverage Alliance of India (FBIA) have already decided to voluntarily restrict food and beverage advertisements when it comes to children. Further Rathore said in Parliament that companies, including Hindustan Unilever and Nestle, have agreed to accept the government’s new order.
Accordingly the Union Minister for Information and
Broadcasting Smriti Irani said in a written reply that there were in fact no
such proposals. It was previously rumored that the Centre would also impose a
ban on ads of soft drinks. Further it had said that the junk food industry is
vast and is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and children are its prime
targets and moreover it had also recommended that there be a restriction on consumption
of foods rich in fat and sugars.
