Does Bagpuss Kill Kids?

The Telegraph reports that the UK of Britain as well as Northern Republic of Ireland nutrient manufacture has been defendant of using children's characters such every bit Bagpuss, Shrek as well as Scooby Doo to promote foods high inwards salt, saccharide as well as fat. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 study past times the consumer grouping Which? constitute that eighteen pop characters from celluloid as well as tv were existence used to marketplace sugary snacks, crisps as well as processed food. Which? defendant nutrient manufacturers of manipulating parents as well as encouraging "pester power" as well as called for a review into the fashion children's characters were licensed.

Bagpuss: looks harmless enough, beware the salty pasta

According to the Which? survey of 2,000 people, to a greater extent than than iii quarters said the purpose of cartoon figures on junk nutrient made it harder for parents to grade no to their children. Nick Stace, of Which?, said:

"Licensing companies as well as nutrient manufacturers stimulate got to stimulate got responsibleness to tackle the diet as well as wellness crisis. The Food Standards Agency needs to prepare a criterion setting out nutritional criteria for when these characters tin dismiss travel used."

The childhood obesity epidemic of the past times few decades has triggered concerns at the influence of junk nutrient advertising. Nearly a 3rd of children are overweight, spell sixteen per cent of two- to 15-year-olds are clinically obese. Food campaigners are also concerned at levels of tabular array salt inwards children's processed foods. One of the products highlighted - a small-scale tin of HP's Bagpuss pasta shapes inwards love apple tree sauce - contained 3.75g of salt, nigh double the 2g of tabular array salt a kid aged betwixt 1 as well as iii should eat inwards a 24-hour interval as well as to a greater extent than than the 3g recommended for a kid aged 4 to six.

The nutrient as well as advertising industries said that they were working alongside the Government to tackle childhood obesity. The Advertising Association said its code of advertising was nether review but it believed to a greater extent than could travel achieved if the manufacture helped the Government as well as nutrient companies to "educate as well as motivate" people into improving their diets.

The Advertising Association: occasional roars from a toothless tiger?

Industry responses:

* Kellogg's: "We are committed to responsibly marketing our brands as well as communicating their intrinsic qualities as well as then that our customers tin dismiss build informed choices".

* Nestlé: "We function closely alongside manufacture as well as authorities bodies as well as this includes the review of our ain as well as manufacture practices as well as guidelines".

The Government wants restrictions on advertising as well as advertisement to children of foods as well as drinks high inwards fat, tabular array salt as well as sugar. It hopes this volition travel done through voluntary agreements, but has given the manufacture a deadline of 2007 to act.

wonders whether danger-foods should bear authorities wellness warnings, but similar cigarettes. Merpel asks why the papers always bother publishing the manufacturers' comments. They exclusively always grade how wonderful as well as responsible they are.

Really unsafe foods here and here
Safe nutrient kills too: encounter here and here