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WI disappointed by Ofcom betrayal
Responding to Ofcom’s announcement today that there will only be a partial ban of junk food advertisements, Fay Mansell, Chair of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) expressed disappointment. Fay Mansell said:

“We are very disappointed that Ofcom has not listened to the Women’s Institute, health campaigners or the Government including Gordon Brown MP. We have all been calling for a total ban on junk food advertising before the 9pm watershed. We remain deeply concerned about the impact of advertising on children’s health.

Children's Food Bill
“Ofcom has betrayed children nationwide and are not fulfilling their remit to protect the public. They are putting company profits before the health of our children – this is not acceptable, and we will continue to campaign for a total ban on the advertising of unhealthy food to children before the 9pm watershed.”

The Women’s Institute, the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the UK, has been campaigning on the issue of children’s diet since 2003. In June 2006, the WI submitted a petition with over twenty thousand signatures to MPs demanding that all junk food advertisements be banned before the 9pm watershed.