Society welcomes Ofcom's "change of heart" on junk food advertising

The Royal Society of Health welcomes the introduction of an Ofcom consultation including the option of a 9pm watershed on TV advertising of junk food.

Ofcom today advised the National Heart Forum, of which the Royal Society of Health is a member, that it would be welcoming comments on a 9pm watershed for junk food advertising.

Professor Richard Parish, Chief Executive, said: "It's about time that Ofcom put the health considerations before advertising revenue and the needs of the food industry".

"We welcome Ofcom's change of heart and hope that the loud and collective voice of the public health community will be properly considered in their revised consultation".

"It is regrettable that Ofcom did not include the option for a 9pm watershed in their initial consultation".

The Royal Society of Health would like to congratulate the National Heart Forum and other public health charities for their outstanding work in raising profile of public health considerations in government decision making.

Ends
21 June 2006

Media Contact
Professor Richard Parish
Chief Executive
Ph. + 44 (0) 207 630 0121 or +44 (0) 771 3255 972

Notes for Editors
The Royal Society of Health is the largest and longest-established public health organisation in the UK. We were founded in 1876 to promote joined up thinking between health professionals and we are a networking organisation that cuts across traditional professional boundaries.

The Royal Society of Health is one of an alliance of 50 national organisations working to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, the UK's biggest single - yet largely preventable - cause of death and disease. See: www.heartforum.org.uk