a comic strip showing a girl in front of a few ads for snack food, thinking that she's really hungry

Art by RJ Matson

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R.1, R.2, R.6, R.8, R.9, W.1, SL.1

Should Junk Food Ads Be Banned?

Potato chips. Cupcakes. Burgers. Ads for these foods are everywhere. How does that affect you?

May 2021

by Anna Starecheski

You’ve seen them: Soda ads before YouTube videos. Photos of crispy chips on your Instagram feed. Social media posts showing juicy burgers and tongue-tingling candies.

Ads for junk food are everywhere

But in the United Kingdom (U.K.), these ads might not be everywhere for long. The government wants to ban them online. Should America do the same?

You’ve seen them. Soda ads before YouTube videos. Photos of chips on your Instagram feed. Social media posts showing burgers and candy.

Ads for junk food are everywhere.

But in the United Kingdom (U.K.), that could change. The government wants to ban these ads online. Should the U.S. do the same?

You’ve seen them: soda ads before YouTube videos, photos of crispy chips on your Instagram feed, and social media posts showing juicy burgers and tongue-tingling candies.

Advertisements for junk food are everywhere.

But in the United Kingdom (U.K.), these ads might not be everywhere for long. The government wants to ban them online. Should America do the same?

Ad Overload

Why does the U.K. government want to ban these ads? It’s mostly worried about kids and teens. Junk food companies want to build something called brand loyalty. That means getting people hooked on their products while they’re young.

So how do these companies do it? They show you a lot of ads! One study found that 98 percent of the food ads kids see are for junk food. Experts say these ads make you more likely to choose unhealthy snacks.

That’s OK sometimes. Eating a cookie or chips every so often is usually fine. But a diet full of junk food can lead to health problems like heart disease or diabetes.

These ads might also affect how much you eat. One study found that people ate 45 percent more after watching food ads on TV. It didn’t even matter if they were hungry!

Why does the U.K. government want to ban these ads? It’s to protect kids and teens. Junk food companies want to build brand loyalty. That means getting people hooked on their products while they’re young.

How do they do this? They show you a lot of ads! One study found that 98 percent of the food ads kids see are for junk food. Experts say these ads make you more likely to choose unhealthy snacks.

For most people, eating a cookie or chips now and then is fine. But too much junk food can lead to health problems like heart disease.

These ads might also affect how much you eat. One study found that people ate 45 percent more after watching food ads on TV. It didn’t even matter if they were hungry!

The U.K. government’s main reason for wanting to ban these ads is concern for kids and teens. Junk food companies want to build something called brand loyalty. That means getting people hooked on their products while they’re young.

So how do these companies do it? They show you a lot of ads! One study found that 98 percent of the food ads kids see are for junk food. According to experts, these ads make you more likely to choose unhealthy snacks.

That’s OK sometimes. Eating a cookie or chips occasionally is fine for most people. But a diet full of junk food can lead to health problems like heart disease or diabetes.

These ads might also affect how much you eat. One study found that people ate 45 percent more after watching food ads on television—whether they were hungry or not!

No “Bad” Food

Art by RJ Matson

Some people eat 45 percent more after watching food ads on TV.

But not everyone agrees with banning junk food ads. Some people say that foods should never be labeled as “bad.” They believe all foods can fit in with a healthy diet. Plus, not every family has a choice when it comes to what to eat. Junk food and fast food are usually cheaper than healthier foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.

Still others argue that banning junk food ads just won’t work. Kids will still see sugary snacks at grocery stores. They’ll eat chips and cheese puffs at friends’ houses. Once you taste junk food, you’re hooked. Are the ads really the problem?

Not everyone agrees with banning junk food ads. Some people say that foods should never be labeled as “bad.” They say all foods can fit in with a healthy diet. Plus, not every family has a choice about what to eat. Junk food and fast food are usually pretty cheap. Healthier foods like fresh fruits and vegetables often cost more.

Others say that ads are not the problem. Kids see sugary snacks at stores. They eat chips at friends’ houses. Once you taste junk food, you’re hooked. Banning ads won’t help.

But not everyone agrees with banning junk food ads. Some people say that foods should never be labeled as “bad.” They believe all foods can fit in with a healthy diet.

Plus, not every family has a choice when it comes to what to eat. Junk food and fast food are usually cheaper than healthier options like fresh fruits and vegetables.

A Better Idea?

Some experts say that there are better ways to get people to eat healthier foods. Instead of banning junk food ads, kids and teens should be taught how to make smart choices. These experts want you to understand why a sugary candy bar doesn’t fill you up like a crispy red apple.

That way, you won’t fall for that junk food ad in your feed. You’ll choose snacks based on your hunger—and the way they make you feel.

Some experts say there are better ways to help people eat healthier. They say kids and teens should be taught how to make smart choices. These experts want you to understand why a candy bar doesn’t fill you up like an apple does.

That way, you won’t fall for junk food ads. You’ll choose snacks based on your hunger—and how they make you feel.

Some experts say that there are better ways to get people to eat healthier foods—for instance, by teaching kids and teens how to make smart choices. These experts want you to understand why a sugary candy bar doesn’t fill you up like a crispy red apple.

That way, you won’t fall for that junk food ad in your feed. You’ll choose snacks based on your hunger—and the way they make you feel.