Children under 16 spend £13 million on sweets and snacks each week in the UK*

How junk food companies target your kids

Packaging

Junk food companies know that brightly coloured packaging and cartoon characters appeal to your kids. The idea is that children will associate the brands with the characters they recognise, and they’ll build a relationship with that brand. Then, as they walk around the supermarket with you, your children will see those brands and beg you to buy their products. Competitions and quizzes are also used to make your children choose particular products.

Disney said in 2006 that they would stop putting their characters on junk food wrappers. But last time we checked, Nemo is still selling chocolate rolls, Pooh Bear is on chocolate bars and the Pirates of the Caribbean are appearing on high sugar cereals.

DreamWorks characters are hugely popular with kids and the company seems to be okay about them being used to push junk. Shrek biscuits and Transformer crisps are displayed in the supermarket aisles, while a deal between Bee Movie and Quaker Sugar Puffs encourages young people to text in the answer to a question found inside special packs.

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One in five kids has played a game or quiz on a food or drink label.Did you know?

*National Consumer Council