Campaign groups are calling on government to ban the use of cartoon animal animations on food and beverage packaging to market unhealthy products to children.
The calls follow a major survey undertaken by charities Action on Sugar and Action at Salt in association with Children’s Food Campaign.
The research found that 51% of 526 food and drink products which use cartoon animations on pack to appear to children are “unnecessary high” in fat, saturated fat, sugar and/or salt.
Manufacturers and retailers are accused of deliberately manipulating children and parents into purchasing “dangerously unhealthy” products, which can encourage pester power and excessive consumption.
Now the three charities – alongside First Steps Nutrition and Living Loud – are calling for a complete ban on these marketing tactics.
They’re also calling for compulsory ‘traffic light’ nutrition labelling on packs, giving parents the chance to make healthier, more informed decisions.
The research found that if marketing on children’s packaging were to follow the same advertising codes as set by the Committee for Advertising Practices for broadcast advertising, half would fail the eligibility criteria and therefore would not be allowed to be advertised to audiences under the age of 16.
The charities are thus calling for this criteria to be extended to all forms of media, and to any programme watched by a child, as is currently being discussed in the Governments’ latest consultation on further advertising restrictions for products high in fat, salt and sugar.
