Fay Mansell, Chair of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, said “It is vital that we put the health of our children first. Childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. We cannot allow pressure from the food and TV industries to influence Ofcom to permit aggressive junk food advertising to children.”

Ofcom is currently consulting on junk food advertising. The WI is asking its 215,000 members to send postcards to Ofcom and MPs illustrating the shocking impact of junk food advertising and calling for a ban on adverts aimed at children.

WI members and the public are also invited to sign an on-line petition in support of the Children’s Food Bill due to be debated in the Commons on 16 June. The WI is campaigning with 160 other organisations including Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming. The Women’s Institute has been campaigning on children’s diet since a resolution was passed at the 2003 AGM calling on members to act on this issue.

Childhood obesity and other diet related health problems are reaching epidemic proportions in the UK. The NFWI believes this trend is fuelled by the increasingly aggressive promotion of unhealthy food to children through television advertising.