AMN / NEW DELHI
The government today said that there is no proposal to impose a ban on telecast of junk food and soft drinks advertisements on television.
Replying to questions in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for information and broadcasting Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, however, said bodies like Food and Beverage Alliance of India have already decided to voluntarily restrict food and beverage advertisements concerning children.
He said nine major food and business operators have joined this campaign and have decided to not to advertise products with high fat, salt or sugar on children’s channels.
The minister said ministry of Health and Family Welfare has informed that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has constituted an Expert Group to address the issue of High fat, sugar and salt foods.
Col Rathore said the expert group in its report made a recommendation regarding the ban on foods with high fat, sugar and salt advertising on children’s channels or during children shows.
The minister informed the House that on this recommendation, the remarks of the FSSAI was that the Food businesses could be asked to voluntarily restrict food and beverage advertisements concerning children.
