The 'junk food ban', the cost of living crisis and politics!

Earlier this year, the government decided to delay the so-called 'junk food ban' until October 2023. This week the Labour Party Shadow Health Minister, Wes Streeting, cast doubt over whether the opposition party was in favour of the 'junk food ban' as part of an anti-obesity strategy.

As part of the Tackling obesity: government strategy there was a plan to ban 'buy one get one free' type offers on junk foods containing ingredients high in fat, salt and sugar in October of this year. However, in May of this year the government put this on hold.

In this BBC article - Labour opposes junk food ban as living costs soar - it is reported that the Shadow Health Minister was not in favour of a ban during a cost of living crisis. But what is less clear is whether the Labour Party feel such a ban has a place in the anti-obesity strategy at all. Streeting suggests that working with companies that produce junk food and looking at some kind of 'self-regulation' might be preferable. This has led to criticism.

For example, a Professor of Public Health tweeted:

Meanwhile, we are left wondering whether the government will axe this part of the anti-obesity strategy altogether, as the BBC report states: 'Prime Minister Liz Truss said she would halt a ban on junk food deals if she won the Tory leadership contest.'

So what is the problem with your diet? Watch the video below to learn more.