South Korea Outlaws Junk Food Advertising Aimed At Kids

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions around the world, with at least 2.6 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese. Even with the recently launched awareness campaign of First Lady Michelle Obama, this epidemic is accelerating quickly, and causing some countries to take drastic measures to protect the health of their citizens.

In an unprecedented move, the health ministry of South Korea recently announced that advertisements for foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt, will be significantly restricted during the prime time television hours of 5 and 7 p.m. and during any children’s programming (Natural News).

The restrictions will be implemented in an effort to satiate child advocacy groups whoe have been calling for limitations on junk food advertising for years. Foods topping the restricted list will include hamburgers, instant noodles, and pizza as well as desserts like chocolate, candy, and ice cream.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, the two most effective ways to limit children’s consumption of unhealthy foods is to restrict their advertising and remove them from schools.

If successful, this ban will not only help prevent childhood obesity, but also the development of other serious health conditions, associated with an unhealthy diet.

Over the past decade, the industrialization of the global food supply has had a significant impact on the quality of life enjoyed by people all over the world. Pesticides from commercial farming has been linked to the development of Parkinson’s Disease, and suspected in the mass deaths of wild lobsters in Canada.

Soft drinks, even consumed in moderation, have been linked to pancreatic cancer, and almost every processed food on the market now contains High Fructose Corn syrup, which scientific studies have shown to contain unsafe levels of mercury.

While there is a growing movement to once again embrace slow foods, and to take responsibility for knowing where our food comes from, it is an uphill battle, as powerful agricultural corporations tighten their grip on the markets, and the governments that are supposed to regulate them.

Officials expressed that the goal of the ban is to encourage food manufacturers to improve the nutritional quality of their products. Rather than simply enact burdensome restrictions, the health ministry is hoping that when all is said and done, consumers will have healthier options available to them as well as be more informed about what they are purchasing (Natural News).

Read more: agriculture, health policy, junk food, korea, pesticides

Image Credit: Flickr Creative Commons - aoifecitywomanchile

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Dan S.

5:08PM PDT on Aug 9, 2010

I think we should get rid of the drink machine. One fine day, I saw a nice little whitish worm with green rings which have a pinkish tinge on one of the packets out of the drink machine. Disgusting!

Long Island Advertising Agencies

send a green star

4:10PM PDT on Mar 28, 2010

Thanks!

Elaine P.

5:13PM PDT on Mar 27, 2010

This will definitely have a direct impact in my life as I have many friends in Korea. I'll have to send this along to them.

will w.

1:56AM PDT on Mar 27, 2010

it make a change for the korean to do good than harming living things. well done 100 out 100 top marks

Abo r.

8:48AM PDT on Mar 24, 2010

noted thanks

Chua H.

7:41AM PDT on Mar 24, 2010

I think we should get rid of the drink machine. One fine day, I saw a nice little whitish worm with green rings which have a pinkish tinge on one of the packets out of the drink machine. Disgusting!

Kythera G.

7:59AM PDT on Mar 22, 2010

Ag and food manufacturing needs to be the targets. When they decide there is more money in healthy food than junk, then they will move. Meanwhile, it would be lovely if our FDA actually did ban GMC, corn fructose and the like. Meanwhile, use your money to make the point and only buy healthy food!

Francis A.

7:35AM PDT on Mar 22, 2010

Un' alimentazione vegetariana corretta, cioe' completa di tutti principi nutritivi, non e' controindicata neanche nei bambini. Anzi, li preserva da disturbi di metabolismi(p. es. sovrapesso, e tendenza al diabete, ultima novita' delle patologie infantile) e numerose malattie, riducendone molto il rischio.

I miei complimenti per la Corea del Sud.

Borg D.

1:51PM PDT on Mar 20, 2010

hope they can keep it up

Mona E.

1:39PM PDT on Mar 20, 2010

Promoting products for children that are harmful to them is absolutely immoral and should be illegal too. And yes, I agree with getting them out of schools too. What are they doing IN schools, for heaven's sake!