March 15, 2008
Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) has urged the government to launch a public awareness program on harmful effects of junk food. In a press release issued here on the World Consumer Rights Day which is celebrated on 15th of March every year, CRCP said that children and youth is becoming more vulnerable to junk food related diseases such as obesity and heart problems. The unhealthy food marketed through child fascinated animation in electronic media is making children more addict to food which has few essential nutrients. About 22 million children around the world are overweight before they have started going to school and this is merely due to excessive digestion of junk food.
The junk food marketed through catching advertisements in electronic media often get popularity among children and they start switching to it for fulfilling their diet requirements which results in the development of poor concentration in the short terms effects and high cholesterol and heart diseases in the longer term. The junk food rich in oil taken as meal causes lack of concentration in children during studies as they start feeling drowsy after having it and if the same food continuously is taken frequently it will become the reason for strain in liver functionality. Similarly such foods are including excessive quantities of sodium which has contributed to hypertension (high blood pressure) in youth as well. The junk food like pakoras, samosas, French fries, sweets, pizzas, burger etc has adverse effects on the health of growing children.
CRCP has emphasized the government to introduce effective public awareness
program for children so that they are not victimized and health of next
generation is secured. CRCP continued that due to the struggle of civil
society in
CRCP calls for public awareness program on junk food