ood companies in the UK have embarked on a 70 million pounds advertising spree this year after escaping a government advertising ban at the height of the obesity crisis a year ago. In total the money spent on food advertising in the first half of 2005 has jumped 23 per cent from 308 million pounds to 378 million pounds compared with the first half of 2004.

Food advertising in cinemas has grown 100 per cent from 2.9 million pounds to 5.7 million pounds, while press is up 33 per cent, from 41 million pounds to 55 million pounds. Television has surged 23 per cent from 213 million pounds to 265 million pounds.... more