Cartoon characters on food packaging really appeal to children. Food companies use these characters to get children to pester parents to buy their products.
Tighter rules in some countries mean that food companies can’t use licenced cartoon characters to promote junk food. However, these companies can still use their own cartoon characters on food packaging. British consumer group Which? carried out a survey recently. They found that all the 19 food company-owned characters it identified promoted junk food as well as healthier children’s foods.
The Independent concludes that, “the most popular children’s foods are those with the most engaging packaging, irrespective of what’s inside.”
Read more: The Independent, 16 Oct 2008