Junk food ad ban: Parents' input vital

SINGAPORE - Health Minister Gan Kim Yong has urged parents to participate in an upcoming online public consultation regarding the Government's impending ban on advertisements that make unhealthy food and drinks appealing to children.

At the World Diabetes Day fair held at the National University of Singapore Society alumni club, he called the advertising guidelines, which will minimise the exposure of advertising of foods high in salt, sugar and fat to children, another strategy in the Government's ongoing fight against diabetes.

"I hope to hear from all of you when the consultation begins as your input will have an impact on the health of our children," he said in his speech on Sunday.

The online public consultation, expected to be launched later this month via the Health Promotion Board website, will last for four weeks before the ban is implemented.

It is understood the ad restrictions will start with TV shows during children's programming hours as well as children-centric cable channels.

Sunday's event, held in conjunction with National Eye Care Day, also saw doctors stress the need for diabetics, who make up more than 10 per cent of Singapore's population, to take care of their eyesight.

"Diabetes eye damage is one of the sufferings of diabetes and a leading cause of blindness in developed countries," said Dr Kevin Tan, vice-president of the Diabetic Society.

yanliang@sph.com.sg

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