A new report from British consumer group Which? finds that food companies are continuing to use popular cartoon characters to promote unhealthy food to children. Which? looked at supermarket products, competition tie-ins, free gifts and websites and found that “children are being bombarded with a dazzling array of cartoon-covered food products.” Most of the foods that feature these characters are high in fat salt or sugar.
Which? has begun a campaign to fight back. It is asking people to send in photos of marketing that they think makes it harder for parents to ensure their children eat a healthy diet. These are for a Wall of Shame.
Read more: Which? website
Cartoon Heroes and Villains
Which warns over cartoon junk food endorsement
Which says that “regulation should be put in place that protects children from all forms of irresponsible marketing of unhealthy foods, whether it’s TV advertising, packaging, free gifts or websites.”
Read more: Press release, Which? 21 Aug 2007
Cartoon heroes enticing children to eat junk food
Read more: The Independent, 21 Aug 2007
Cartoon characters labeled food villains
Read more: The Guardian, 21 Aug 2007
