An alliance of nutrition and child protection organizations wants to curb advertising for unhealthy food in Germany. In an appeal available to the editorial network Germany, the group calls for such advertising to be banned between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. In addition, the 40 signatories propose a 100-meter ban mile for such advertising posters around schools, day-care centers and playgrounds.

"Advertising has been shown to influence the preferences and eating habits of children and young people," the report says. They would currently eat twice as much sweets but only half as much fruit and vegetables as recommended. "A balanced diet is essential for health, especially in children and adolescents."

The signatories to the appeal to the federal government include the AOK, Techniker Krankenkasse, Foodwatch and the German Children's Fund.