Goodbye, Junk Food Ads! How Europe is Protecting Children’s Health

Many experts say that while TV is getting safer, the internet and social media are still full of junk food ads.

RMN Kids Health Desk
New Delhi | April 18, 2026

Have you ever noticed how many commercials for sugary snacks, salty chips, and greasy burgers you see while watching your favorite shows? Many countries in Europe are now saying “enough is enough” to protect children like you from being pressured into eating unhealthy food.

The Big Mission: Healthy Kids Everywhere: Experts are worried because more and more children around the world are becoming unhealthy due to obesity. In fact, a report says that by the year 2040, over 220 million children could be facing this problem. To help, the European Union has created a plan called the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). This plan asks countries to make special rules that stop junk food from looking “too good” in ads and to make sure kids don’t see these promotions too often.

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How Different Countries are Helping: Each country has its own way of keeping kids safe from “junk food” (food high in fat, salt, and sugar). Here is what some places are doing:

• Ireland: They have banned the use of fun characters or special prizes in junk food commercials during kids’ TV shows.
• France: They have gone even further by banning all commercials during and around children’s programs on public television.
• Portugal: They have strict rules that ban junk food ads for kids across the internet, radio, and even at the movies.
• The Netherlands: They make sure that popular stars or idols aren’t used to sell unhealthy snacks to children.

The Challenge of the Digital World: Even with these new rules, there is still work to do. Many experts say that while TV is getting safer, the internet and social media are still full of junk food ads. Sometimes, “influencers” on video-sharing sites subtly promote unhealthy food to their young fans, and the rules for these websites aren’t always as strong as they are for TV.

By making these changes, leaders hope to create a healthier environment where it is easier for you to grow up strong and happy.