Sweet makers "uses cartoon characters to please children" | Society

According to a survey, half of food and beverage products containing popular cartoon characters such as Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol are high in fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt.

The research was compiled by a coalition of health groups, accusing manufacturers and retailers of manipulating children and parents to buy unhealthy products.

In the largest survey of its kind to date, Action on Sugar, Action on Salt and the Campaign for Child Nutrition revealed that 51% of the more than 500 food and beverage products badessed did not meet the conditions. required to advertise on television during children's programming, or on the Transport for London network.

Health groups urge the government to ban the use of television and film characters to market unhealthy products for children and to make "light light" nutrition labeling mandatory.

For the year, 526 products were found to be child-friendly, ranging from chocolate treats to snacks, canned pasta, smoothies and yogurts. All are sold in major British supermarkets.

Peppa Pig Candy candies have been selected to contain 99% sugar. The Kinnerton & # 39; s Paw Patrol mini chocolate bars, which contain more than 60% sugar and 17% saturated fat, were also among the worst offenders: a 12g bar would offer a child from 4 to 6 years old 38% of the maximum daily intake recommended for sugar.

Dr Milo Quick Milk Magic Sipper Strawberry contained 94 grams of sugar per 100 grams, or 1.4 teaspoons of sugar per straw.

Kinnerton Confectionery declined to comment on the results. Bazooka International Candy Brands, the maker of Peppa Pig candy bites, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Dr. Kather Hashem, Nutritionist and Campaign Manager at Action on Sugar, said, "It's shocking that companies are exploiting the health of their children by using cartoon characters on their food and sugar-rich beverages, especially on chocolates and sweets, already hard to resist for children.

"Do we really need to encourage children to want more of these products and harbad their parents to buy them? It is time for regulation to reduce bad industry habits. "

It was found that only 18 food products and healthy beverages, such as fruits, vegetables and water, used child-friendly cartoons, and Lidl was commended for his range of Oaklands fruits and vegetables .