This document discusses whether unhealthy food should be banned. It presents statistics from the World Health Organization showing a global rise in obesity rates. It also provides information from surveys that found fast food wrappers are the most common litter in UK cities. Additionally, it notes that a Cambridge University study found eating healthy foods costs three times as much as unhealthy options. The document concludes by sharing various opinions on banning fast food, with some supporting education over bans and others noting socioeconomic factors that influence food choices.

1. Should unhealthy food be
banned?
Yes, it should No, it shouldn’t

2. RESOURCE 1: World Health Organisation statistics on obesity
 Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980.
 In 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these
over 600 million were obese.
 39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2014, and 13% were obese.
 Most of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills
more people than underweight.
 42 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2013.
 Obesity is preventable.
RESOURCE 2: An article from The Guardian, 2014
Fast-food wrappers top list of litter dropped
on UK streets
Keep Britain Tidy survey finds
fast-food wrappers are the most
common type of litter in more than
half of the UK's cities and towns.
Fast-food wrappers top the list of
rubbish dropped in more than half
the UK's cities and towns, a survey
of the brands found littering the
streets showed.
In London, however, cigarette
packaging makes up more than half of the branded litter on the streets, the survey by Keep
Britain Tidy revealed.
In more than half the places surveyed by the anti-litter campaigners, including Manchester,
Rugby, Sheffield and Southend, fast-food brands topped the list of rubbish on the streets.
In other parts of the country, such as Carlisle and Gloucester, confectionery wrappers were
the most common types of litter.
Across the UK as a whole, McDonald's was the brand most seen as litter on the streets,
making up 13% of the items found.
Cadbury, Greggs, Wrigley, Coca-Cola, Mars, Marlboro, Lambert and Butler, and Subway
were all also in the top 10 for brands of litter on the streets, along with unbranded fish and
chips, kebab and pizza wrappers.
Keep Britain Tidy is working with businesses on the Love Where You Live scheme to try to
reduce litter on the UK's streets, which costs £858m to clear up.

3. RESOURCE 3: From an article from the Telegraph, July 2013
Eating healthily costs three times as much as consuming unhealthy food - and the price gap
is widening, according to a study by Cambridge University.
Healthy foods 2002 2012 (£/1000kcal): Unhealthy foods 2002 2012 (£/1000kcal):
Tomatoes £9.53 £13.21
Vegetable burgers £2.17 £2.80
Semi-skimmed milk £1.07 £1.73
Canned tuna £3.22 £5.54
Yoghurt £14.09 £17.68
Salmon £4.11 £6.87
Lean beef mince £2.64 £4.52
Iceberg lettuce £11.36 £16.45
Cauliflower £6.89 £9.97
Canned soup £1.91 £3.42
Frozen pizza £2.10 £1.58
Beefburger £1.24 £2.01
Bacon £3.14 £4.15
Cola drink £2.61 £4.24
Doughnut £0.96 £0.98
Ice cream £1.50 £1.57
Box of chocolates £6.25 £4.68
Jar of jam £0.86 £0.99
Sponge cake £1.26 £1.21
Fizzy energy drink £4.09 £5.55
"The increase in the price difference between more and less healthy foods is a factor that
may contribute towards growing food insecurity, increasing health inequalities, and a
deterioration in the health of the population."
RESOURCE 4: Opinions about the ban of fast food from a BBC survey
I have a high pressure job and I work very long hours. I don't have time to prepare healthy meals
or exercise. This has proved to be a vicious circle
Kevin Smith, England
It's human nature to take the easy route. Junk food and watching the telly are easy, while eating
properly and exercising are not. We need to educate kids as to what to eat and what will happen if
they fall into an unhealthy life style. More government interference in our lives won't help. Plus its
not the fault of fast food companies if some people are to damn lazy to cook properly or walk to
work.
B. Anderson, Newcastle
It is down to the individual to exercise self discipline in what they put into their bodies, we all have
a choice in what we eat. Banning of junk food ads is not going to work, it didn't work for smoking.
DD, UK
The reason children are putting on weight is because they do not get enough exercise. It is about
time there was a government drive to improve and make safe existing park areas so that children
can be encouraged by their parents to play out instead of sitting at game consoles or computers.
The government are failing children today by not making this an important issue - they are
missing the point if they think its our eating habits that need monitoring.
Sue, UK
Vegetables and fruits are some of the most expensive items in the supermarkets here. As a
student, I know how to save money - get fatty, pre-packaged foods. Or just go to McDonald's. It is
no accident that poor people here are fatter than those who have money to get a gym
membership or get a treadmill at home.
Linda, Connecticut, USA