Griffiths' comments came during a session at the Arabian Travel Market where he said a lot of calculations had gone into designing the new terminal
A whopping majority (87 per cent) said that TV advertising impacts children's current food choices, and also believe that if children are exposed to fast food ads at a young age, it will affect their food choices in the future, results from a survey done by Omnibus YouGov in September showed.
Around three quarters of respondents indicated being concerned about children's exposure to fast food TV advertising, with close to a quarter (23 per cent) indicating their child asks for fast food after watching these ads. According to the survey, two out of five people claim that they are making unhealthy food choices after watching an ad on TV.
Four in five people also think that there should be laws regulating fast food advertising in the hours when children are most likely to watch TV.
Of the total 2,743 who were surveyed - close to half of GCC respondents (45 per cent) mentioned being exposed to fast food advertisements every day.Government measures
The move to ban marketing of fast food to children is part of a roadmap for prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The UAE has already implemented VAT on tobacco and soft drinks and a strategy to combat prevalence of obesity especially among children.
Dr Fadila, however, ruled out any taxation on fast foods. "We can tax salt, sugar or transfats but not the food itself.how do you define fast food?," she asked.UAE Vs GCC
Previously, less than a fifth of GCC respondents consumed fast food at least once a week. This number is highest in Kuwait (67 per cent), a country that currently charts at highest incidence of obesity in the Middle East.
Half of the GCC respondents indicated they are concerned about fast food advertising on television but there are vast differences between neighbouring countries.
In the UAE, more than 60 per cent of the respondents are concerned while in Kuwait and Oman over 60 per cent are indifferent/not concerned at all.
Around three quarters of respondents indicated being concerned about children's exposure to fast food TV advertising, with close to a quarter (23 per cent) indicating their child asks for fast food after watching these ads.
On the effectiveness of control on TV food and drink advertising, 63 per cent of UAE feel the measures are effective. Besides, seven in 10 respondents voiced their concern against toys being used to promote food and drinks.
Kerry McLaren, head of YouGov Omnibus, MENA, said: "YouGov data shows that although people are aware of the adverse effects of eating fast food and show general concern in lack of controls around its advertising, there is no direct resistance in overall consumption of fast food."
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
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