Ofcom could face its first judicial review at the hands of the National Heart Forum, an alliance of health and consumer charities and professional medical organisations concerned about obesity.

In its current consultation of the advertising of food to children on TV, Ofcom offered three options for new restrictions, but did not include the NHF’s favoured option, which is a 9pm watershed for the advertising of foods high in salt, sugar or fat. Ofcom says the effect of this on TV advertising revenue would be ‘disproportionate’ to the health gains. The NHF believes this decision is ’skewed, unfair’ and relies on a selective interpretation of the evidence. Following an exchange of legal letters the NHF has announced in a news release its intention to apply for a judicial review.

On 19 May, aware that this challenge was coming, Ofcom slightly adjusted its position, with an announcement on its website that it would conduct a full year study of the advertising effects and extend the consultation deadline to 30 June.

Ofcom was asked over a year ago by culture secretary Tessa Jowell to examine the options for new restrictions on food advertising, following a government health whtie paper that called for urgent action to tackle obesity.

All of which should make the seminar of the Westminster Diet and Health Forum on 1st June a lively affair…