- South Australia Plans Ban on Ads for Unhealthy Food
- A ban would lead to advertisements being taken down at transit stations and on buses and trains.
- Items encompass deli meats and sweets.
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South Australia is proceeding with stringent regulations banning advertisements for unhealthy foods and beverages, encompassing everything from sweets to ordinary ham sandwiches.
The restriction, set to begin on July 1, will forbid advertisements for unhealthy food and drink items. Adelaide The public transportation system — encompassing buses, trains, and trams.
Prohibited items consist of processed meats like ham and salami, hamburgers, pizzas, sweets, chocolates, sodas, and various candies.
According to the present categorization guidelines, even enriched soy milk is classified as a sugary drink and thus will be prohibited. However, jam is permitted, whereas rice cakes are not.
This measure aims to reduce children's exposure to advertisements for unhealthy foods and beverages.
However, as reported to Daily Mail Australia, Angelina, who has two children, stated that the restriction was absurd since fast-food businesses were still able to advertise their products to children through television. YouTube .
"If I prepare a sandwich for my kids using ham, I typically add cheese, lettuce, and cucumber too," explained Angelina.
'I've never had my children see an advertisement featuring ham and ask me to purchase it for them.'
They ultimately plead with me to purchase fast food once they watch commercials from establishments such as McDonald’s, KFC, and Hungry Jack’s. This is the actual issue at hand.
The Australian Association of National Advertisers claims that the prohibition is unwarranted.
'The current policy prohibits all processed meats, so even something as basic as a ham salad sandwich cannot be promoted,' stated AANA CEO Josh Faulks.
This just doesn’t add up, and the government ought to focus on choices grounded in evidence rather than across-the-board prohibitions that contradict nutritional science.
The warning further indicates that both charities and enterprises might suffer adverse effects due to this prohibition.
"The policy prohibits all advertisements featuring those restricted food or beverage products," stated Mr Faulks.
For instance, an advertisement marking the anniversary of a children's charity that shows a child holding a birthday cake would not be allowed.
Health Minister Chris Picton criticized AANA's position, alleging that the organization was 'spreading fear'.
"These lobbyists are trying to compel the State Government to continue displaying advertisements for unhealthy foods on our buses during an ongoing obesity crisis," Mr Picton said to Newswire.
The policy covers government-operated Adelaide Metro buses, trains, and trams.
'The responsibility does not lie with advertising industry lobbyists to decide what should appear on our public transportation vehicles.'
Upon announcing the policy, Mr Picton stated that children faced an onslaught of advertisements for unhealthy foods and beverages, which have consistently been acknowledged to adversely affect their eating habits.
'Mr Picton stated that every year, major corporations invest substantial sums of money into creating compelling slogans and attractive advertisements aimed at motivating South Australian kids to increase their intake of heavily processed foods that are rich in fats, salts, and sugars.'
Prohibiting these advertisements in the prominent locations where they frequently appear, particularly those viewed by children, is a prudent measure toward fostering a healthier South Australia.
'Eating behaviors and relational patterns formed during one’s formative years significantly influence dietary choices and health results in adulthood.'
The prohibition has likewise received support from several groups such as Preventive Health SA and the Cancer Council.
Data from government sources indicated that 35.2 percent of children and 63.1 percent of adults in South Australia were either overweight or obese.
The modelling suggested that without intervention, the number of overweight South Australians or those living with obesity could increase by another 1,900 children and 48,000 adults over the coming five-year period.
Lauren Ball, who holds the position of Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing at The University of Queensland, had earlier cautioned parents regarding the health hazards associated with excessive consumption of ham.
'The ham itself does not classify as junk food. It provides a good amount of protein along with various other nutrients.'
'That said, specific kinds of ham products — particularly those that have undergone extensive processing or curing — are not as beneficial health-wise due to various factors.'
'A lot of store-bought ham products, particularly those that have undergone extensive processing and curing, tend to contain high levels of sodium, essentially salt.'
'Too much salt consumption is linked to health problems like hypertension and can raise the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases and suffering from strokes.'
typically exceed the suggested maximum intake of sodium. For kids between four and eight years old, it should be limited to around 600 mg daily, whereas for those from nine to thirteen, it ought not surpass 800 mg per day.'
The World Health Organization states that decreasing sodium intake is among the most economical methods for countries to enhance public health.
She cautioned that some packaged hams might include additives, preservatives, and flavor enhancers that we ought to cut back on.
The techniques used for processing and curing ham might include smoking, which could lead to the formation of substances like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Consuming high amounts of these compounds potentially poses health risks, such as raising the likelihood of developing bowel cancer.
She suggested Australians check the labels when picking ham and opt for items with reduced salt levels, fewer preservatives, and more healthful processing techniques.
In 2019, the Cancer Council caused a stir when they advised parents not to include muesli bars, ham sandwiches, and savory biscuits in their kids' school lunches.
The Cancer Council released a list of 'unhealthy snacks,' which included muffins, biscuits, cheese spreads on crackers, and fruit boxes as items that families should refrain from purchasing at supermarkets.
Rather than opting for a store-bought muesli bar, the organization recommended that parents create a homemade alternative or prepare some zucchini, broccoli, and cheese hashbrown cups – these consist of shredded hash browns shaped into cups and loaded with an assortment of fillings.
Other choices for a piece of cake were fruit loaf and pumpkin and sweet potato scones.
Instead of fruit juice, options like milk or water were recommended, and when it came to a packet of biscuits, parents were advised to think about offering their children pita bread with roasted vegetable dip, or perhaps some veggie muffins.
Parents were advised to opt for popcorn and roasted chickpeas instead of a bag of chips as an alternative snack choice.
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