Peterborough Youth Council calls for ban on junk food ads

The petition by Peterborough Youth Council will be tabled at a council meeting on 7 November

A youth group is calling for a ban on junk food adverts on council property.

Peterborough Youth Council (PYC) will take a petition to a council meeting next week, asking it to restrict the promotion of junk food in places owned by Peterborough City Council (PCC).

Some members said they come across several junk food adverts while walking to school.

PYC is a city-wide group that campaigns on issues important to young people.

The group said young people were "bombarded with junk food ads and left to deal with the consequences of obesity and poor mental health on their own".

Members want to increase the visibility of healthier options provided by local businesses and inspire others to advocate for change.

A report prepared by Jyoti Atri, public health director for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said the promotion of unhealthy food and beverage products was widely recognised in Europe as a significant risk factor for child obesity.

It also stated that 22% of Peterborough's Reception age children measured as overweight with 41.2% of Peterborough's Year 6 children measured as overweight.

Billboard adverts on Bridge Street, Peterborough, were analysed in September and October as part of the campaign.

Out of the 27 adverts seen in September, 56% were for junk food or drinks, with only 11% of adverts falling within the health and wellbeing category. In October, 46% of adverts related to junk foods or drinks.

Currently, eight local authorities across the UK have signed off their own advertising ban, including Luton and Barnsley, and 100 additional local authorities are considering implementing their own policies.

The council meeting will take place on 7 November and it will consider the evidence presented in the campaign.