MPs Approve Bill to Ban Junk Food Advertising to Children; Bill Proceeds to Senate

Food like the items on this table will no longer be advertised to children in Canada if a bill that just passed in the House of Commons is subsequently passed in the Senate. Shutterstock

A bill to ban the advertising of junk food to children is one step closer to becoming law after MPs in the House of Commons voted 208 to 116 in favour of the proposal.

If the bill is made law, Health Canada will have the power to stop advertisers from marketing foods containing “more than prescribed level of sugar, saturated fats or sodium” to children under the age of 13. The government will decide which specific foods cannot be advertised to children and at what defined limits of those ingredients.