Children should be less confronted with advertising for unhealthy food. That’s what the coalition agreement says, but the FDP has criticized the Green Minister’s draft law. She now has to listen to clear words from associations.
Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir wants to better protect children from unhealthy food with advertising bans. For many in the FDP, these plans go too far. Now 61 associations and organizations want to change the party’s mind. In an open letter to the FDP leadership, they appeal to support the advertising ban.
With its rejection, the party is “going against the unanimous consensus in science and among professional organizations,” says the letter, quoted by the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. This means “a clear rejection of the health protection of children and young people”.
project is in coalition agreement
According to the newspaper, the signatories include consumer advocates, the AOK Federal Association, the professional association of paediatricians, the German Diabetes Society, the German Cancer Research Center and the German Children’s Fund. In their appeal to FDP leader Christian Lindner, the groups expressed their “great concern” about recent statements by FDP representatives, the newspaper continues.
The coalition agreement between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP expressly stipulates a restriction on the advertising of unhealthy food. There it says:
In the future, programs and formats for under 14-year-olds will no longer be allowed to advertise foods with a high sugar, fat and salt content aimed at children
Kubicki spoke of “political activism”
The FDP reacted skeptically to negatively to the draft law presented by the Green politician Özdemir. FDP Vice Wolfgang Kubicki spoke of “political activism”. However, the party has not issued an official statement.
After criticism, Minister Özdemir tightened the planned restrictions again at the end of June. Advertising bans for products with too much sugar, fat and salt should now be concentrated on times when a particularly large number of children watch television.
Foodwatch: Primetime junk food advertising
Gero Hocker, agricultural policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that the Liberals were prepared to limit advertising for unhealthy foods that are aimed directly at children – for example in comics or around children’s programs. But Minister of Nutrition Özdemir’s plans went too far.
From the point of view of the signers of the letter, such a limited ban would miss its mark. Because about every third TV program that children under the age of 14 watch is not a classic children’s program: “Especially in the evening prime time, the food industry showers children with junk food advertising – this is exactly where the advertising barriers have to take effect, otherwise nothing is gained,” explained Molling from Foodwatch.
15 percent of children are overweight
The signatories also reject the objection that advertising restrictions restrict consumer freedom. On the contrary, advertising has a proven influence on buying and eating behavior – and thus impairs the ability to make free decisions.
The World Health Organization also recently called for mandatory advertising bans to protect children and young people. Studies have shown that less advertising has a positive effect on children’s food choices. According to the signers of the appeal, 15 percent of children and young people in Germany are currently overweight and six percent are obese, a condition that is severely overweight.