Obesity, especially among children, is a huge problem in the UK. The government wants to help to do something about it. But when?

British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver took a portion of the well-known dessert Eton Mess outside Downing Street to protest the government’s postponement of an anti-obesity strategy.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson must keep his promise and end advertising for fast food, the 46-year-old demanded on Twitter on Friday. Oliver told the PA news agency: “We must put the health of the children first.”

Despite heavy rain, around 100 people supported the chef at the protest in front of the government seat. On signs they called for “Child health first” and criticized: “What an Eton Mess” – literally: What an Eton mess. Eton Mess is a strawberry and cream creation loved by the British upper class. Oliver stressed that the dessert was “invented in the privileged place” where the prime minister went to school – the elite school Eton.

The British government originally wanted to ban discount offers and television advertising for unhealthy food from October. In view of rising food prices, however, she has now postponed this project by a year. Obesity is a widespread problem in British society and a major burden on the healthcare system. Oliver praised the retail giant Tesco, which, despite the government’s about-face, wants to end discount campaigns on sweets as early as October.