Unhealthy food and drink advertising faces a clamp down

A Yorkshire council is cracking down on business adverts which promote unhealthy food and drinks.

Barnsley Council has introduced a High Fat Salt or Sugar (HFSS) Policy Guidance Note to restrict advertising for these types of products.

The council explains this serves to protect children and adults from exposure to HFSS advertising, which can influence what people eat and drink, as well as how much.

Barnsley Council says its guidance note is an addition to its existing Advertising and Sponsorship Policy and follows similar policies adopted by Bristol City Council and several London boroughs.

It will restrict the advertising of HFSS products on all council-owned or leased advertising sites.

The guidance note for Barnsley has been developed with support from food charity, Sustain, which advised the Mayor of London’s team on the TfL policy and has been working with over 80 local authorities across the country to introduce local healthier advertising policies.

Julia Burrows, director of Public Health for Barnsley Council, said: “We want everyone in Barnsley to have the best possible chance of enjoying life in good physical and mental health. This guidance note is just one element of what we’re doing to make it easier to be healthy.”

“We’re working with businesses who already advertise with us and will work collaboratively with any future businesses to make sure they can advertise healthy food and drink with us.

“We’re hoping this will be the first step in other organisations in Barnsley adopting a similar policy.”