Comedian Ed Gamble forced to change Tube poster that featured 'unhealthy' hot dog
The performer Ed Gamble had to take down an image of a sausage in a roll from his promotional posters for a London event on the underground after being informed by the officials at TfL that such imagery did not comply with their healthy eating regulations.
The presenter of the Off Menu podcast was depicted in advertisements for his program, Hot Diggity Dog, holding a sausage covered in oily sauce.
However, upon sending posters advertising his five night shows at Hackney Empire to TfL to display on the Underground, he received a notification stating that they did not comply with the network's anti-junk food policy. As a result, he was informed that the posters would have to be either removed or covered up.
Ed Gamble has made alterations to his tour advertisement as it did not comply with healthy eating regulations set by TfL (Transport for London).
Gamble exchanged his low-quality car for a fresh green vegetable in order to showcase his promotional content. He mentioned, "TfL notified me that I am not eligible to include a hot dog in my advertisement to endorse the Hackney Empire shows, scheduled for June."
Maybe I am considered risky? Therefore, I have substituted it for a cucumber. Ingest your leafy vegetables, children.
A representative from TfL stated that they are happy to have all forms of advertising on their transportation system, as long as it adheres to the guidelines they have made publicly available.
After examining the advertisement, we suggested that certain aspects be taken out or made less visible to ensure it followed our guidelines.
We have launched an updated advertisement on our network and we are pleased to collaborate with individuals to guarantee their advertisements comply with our regulations.
Ed Gamble has taken a traditional Tube advertisement and transformed it into his very own comedic masterpiece with his editing skills. This unique approach is both witty and engaging, bringing a new level of humor to the advertising world. By incorporating his personal touch, Ed Gamble has created an unforgettable advertisement that will surely grab the attention of passersby. It's a clever way to showcase his comedic talent while also drawing attention to a product or service. This type of creative advertising is becoming more popular and Ed Gamble has undoubtedly set the bar high.
Starting in 2019, junk food advertisements are now prohibited on the entirety of London's public transportation network.
Ads promoting food or drinks that are rich in unhealthy components like fats, salt, and sugar are strictly banned from being showcased on public transport, comprising the Tube, London Overground, as well as buses and their related stations.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, stated that these regulations are an essential measure to combat the looming crisis of childhood obesity in the city.
The University of Sheffield and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine conducted an evaluation in 2022, revealing that the limitations imposed had contributed to the avoidance of approximately 100,000 instances of obesity.
According to studies, the policy resulted in a reduction of 94,867 obesity cases, which is equal to a 4.8% decline. Additionally, there were 2,857 less diabetes cases and 1,915 less instances of cardiovascular disease.
The regulations have received negative feedback for being excessively limiting.
In the previous year, TfL prohibited advertisements that showcased a handmade cheese corporation as they were thought to encourage an unwholesome eating habit.
The CEO and founder of Cheesegeek, Edward Hancock, criticized the ruling as "absurd" and argued that it unfairly places cheese in the same category as unhealthy junk food.
Opponents have additionally highlighted that businesses like Greggs and Lola's Cupcakes enjoy permission to establish themselves in stations, yet depictions of the unsalubrious victuals they peddle are impermissible.
