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Mostly the fatty, salty or sugary ones
Food Commission research shows that:
- Over three-quarters of food sold as suitable for children
is stuffed full of fat, saturated fat, sugar and/or artificial
additives
- Fatty, sugary and salty children's foods are promoted
by popstars, cartoon characters, free toys and token schemes
- Artificial additives are used in children's foods to make
them more attractive (looks and taste), but also mask poor
quality ingredients and empty calories
Research from Sustain:
The alliance for better food and farming shows that 99%
of all adverts during children's television viewing time are
for fatty, sugary and salty foods.
In December 2001, researchers for the Food Standards Agency
failed to find a school that did not engage in some form of
commercial food promotion. Schools are increasingly a target
for manufacturers promoting chocolates, sweets and fizzy drinks
to children as young as five years old. These are sold in
vending machines, or advertised in the guise of "educational
materials."
There are question marks about the safety of some additives,
particularly for children. Yet children's foods are the very
products most laden with the colourings and flavour boosters
which cause concern on grounds of health and objectionable
experimentation on animals.
At a time when health experts recommend that we eat more
fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat and fish, there is a
danger that food additives are undermining this good advice.
The Food Commission is concerned that most additives are used
to make unhealthy, processed foods cheaper and more attractive
than healthy, fresh foods.
If you are a parent (of a child or children between 2 and
16 years old) you could join the Food Commission's Angry Parents
campaign and act as a jury to judge foods and advertising
practices aimed at children. They will use your comments and
suggestions to tell manufacturers, supermarkets, and the government
what changes parents want to see.
For more information contact:
Angry Parents
The Food Commission
94 White Lion Street
London N1 9PF
Email: parentsjury@foodcomm.org.uk
Tel: 020 7837 2250
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