Children spend £14 a week of their own money on junk food*

How junk food companies target your kids

Advertising in cinemas

Now that television advertising of junk food is restricted, advertising in cinemas is on the increase. In the last year alone, the amount of junk food advertising in cinemas rose by nearly half.

Over the Christmas period, the BHF went to see several children's films around the UK and found junk food advertising before every one. Pizza Hut, Quality Street, Coco Pops and Coca-Cola were making an effort to reach children and young families, advertising before several different films including Enchanted, The Bee Movie and the Golden Compass.

Alongside ads, junk food product placement is increasingly prevalent, with movies like Disney's Enchanted prominently displaying Coca-Cola logos and Alvin and the Chipmunks featuring a grown-up's kitchen stuffed with nothing but branded junk food products aimed at children. And it could get worse. Under new European legislation, product placement may soon be allowed on British TV.

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The amount spent on junk food advertising in the cinema increased by nearly 50% between 2006 and 2007.Did you know?

*National Consumer Council