Fed up with junk food marketing

[jd28]

As a parent I'm totally fed up with the way that unhealthy food choices are pushed at children, from cartoon characters on sugary cereals, to promotions for takeaway food on social networking sites. My daughter's only just two, but she can already pick out the cartoon characters on food packs in the supermarket!

I work for Which? and we’ve been campaigning against the irresponsible ways that some food companies target children, making it harder for parents to make healthy choices for their families.

There is a Bill currently going through Parliament calling for more restrictions on junk food promotions - it will be debated this week. If you're fed up with food companies pushing unhealthy food to your kids, why not email your MP and ask them to support it and attend the debate. http://www.which.co.uk/kidsfoodaction

You can also find out more about Which?'s campaign here http://www.which.co.uk/kidsfood

How do you deal with marketing power? What pushes your kids' buttons?

[missymum22]

How do you deal with marketing power? What pushes your kids' buttons?

my kids want everything...even down to spongebob squarepants crumpets.......

the word 'no' works rather well:cheesy:

[Katiequiggle]

You don't have to buy then you know. Two year olds can't go to the supermarket or the local fast food outlet and order a big mac or pick up a scooby doo cheese string or what ever it is. If you say no, they don't get it. I've never ever brought foods directed at children, mine eat normal healthy and sometimes unhealthy foods. If you the parents didn't buy it there wouldn't be a market for it would there. Its not rocket science.

[Ravenfire]

At the end of the day I still feel it's the parents responsibility to make sure their child has a healthy diet. Whilst I appreciate junk food promotions don't help it won't stop by banning or reducing them - if the children don't see it on the TV or in newspapers they will still see their friends with it or in supermarkets.

Personally I think more emphasis should be put on educating parents as to what is good/bad for their children and also educating the children themselves at school.

[jd28]

Well, it's pretty easy to control the pester power for now - she's trapped in the trolley and I can just say no. I control her diet as I'm in charge of what comes home, whatever temper tantrums may result (not too much trouble so far, but I'm waiting...), and what ends up on the table, and she's not choosing her meals anywhere else either. So far, so easy.

It's more the future that worries me, so I guess my question is more for parents with older kids. How does this play out as they get bigger, get better at arguing, are more subject to peer pressure with packed lunches etc? What about when they start having their own pocket money? Do you prevent them from spending it on certain things, or let them choose?

[Girlzmum]

At the end of the day I still feel it's the parents responsibility to make sure their child has a healthy diet. Whilst I appreciate junk food promotions don't help it won't stop by banning or reducing them - if the children don't see it on the TV or in newspapers they will still see their friends with it or in supermarkets.

Personally I think more emphasis should be put on educating parents as to what is good/bad for their children and also educating the children themselves at school.

:iagree:

[Ravenfire]

I have older children. Again it's all about educating them and not saying no to everything. Even my six year old knows what is healthy and what isn't.

They all know sweets, drinks etc. are ok in moderation but if they want the bad stuff then they have to have the good stuff as well, which they do.

[missymum22]

Well, it's pretty easy to control the pester power for now - she's trapped in the trolley and I can just say no. I control her diet as I'm in charge of what comes home, whatever temper tantrums may result (not too much trouble so far, but I'm waiting...), and what ends up on the table, and she's not choosing her meals anywhere else either. So far, so easy.

It's more the future that worries me, so I guess my question is more for parents with older kids. How does this play out as they get bigger, get better at arguing, are more subject to peer pressure with packed lunches etc? What about when they start having their own pocket money? Do you prevent them from spending it on certain things, or let them choose?

mine are 6 and nearly 9, if they get pocket money they are more inclined to buy match attax cards or crazy bones, there is always a treat in the house, a chocolate or a pack of crisps but they normally choose fruit,

cereals are shop own (unless they are cornflakes) so you dont get loads of advertising, but to be fair, whatever gets bought in this house is because the adults choose it, not the kids.......


when they can pay for their own shopping when they have moved out i hope ive taught them that spongebob or the next big thing only adds cash to the product...there isnt a spongebob factory yanno!

[Katiequiggle]

My children are 9 and 10 and ever since they have been sitting in shopping trollies I have said no and as they got older I explained that the food was the same but cost more becasue it has a funny picture on it. Mine now accept that its all a con and don't even bother to ask. I'm not against buying cartoon food if it's nutritionally good and no higher in price, I really think it's down to the parent to educate their child how to eat healthily and not leave it to society to do so. My children get pocket money but are not allowed to spend it on sweets or food. They may well when they are older but I have done my best and at some point in time they are going to make their own choices whatever is on the packaging.

[Chell]

Well, it's pretty easy to control the pester power for now - she's trapped in the trolley and I can just say no. I control her diet as I'm in charge of what comes home, whatever temper tantrums may result (not too much trouble so far, but I'm waiting...), and what ends up on the table, and she's not choosing her meals anywhere else either. So far, so easy.

It's more the future that worries me, so I guess my question is more for parents with older kids. How does this play out as they get bigger, get better at arguing, are more subject to peer pressure with packed lunches etc? What about when they start having their own pocket money? Do you prevent them from spending it on certain things, or let them choose?

I've not got as far as the pocket money stage yet as DS is just four and a half, DD three. I often tell them no and they accept it. They ask for the cereal with a free toy or a character all over the box but I explained that Asda's own is cheaper and they accept it. If I needed to explain I'd just say well we can buy xxx but then we'd not have money for xxxx - they'd accept that.

DS tells me that his friends have chocolate in their packed lunch but I know that not all do. For all he tells me that others have it he hasn't yet asked for any. He knows which foods are good for him and which foods are healthy so should be eaten in moderation.

I agree that it is the parents who need educated. I feel that I have a good understanding of what is healthy and what isn't so can pass that onto my children.

[jd28]

I agree it's up to parents - it's how much promotional information we have to fight against that troubles me. Advertisers don't do it for fun, marketing works. According to recent research, obese and overweight children who watch food adverts on TV more than double their food intake afterwards. The same study also found that children of normal weight upped their eating by 84 per cent too, so I can't just shrug it off on the basis that my kid isn't fat... (yet), either. http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/food_and_drink/reports/diet_nutrition_and_safety/tv_ads_affect_eating_news_article_557_113628.jsp

Education about healthy eating is important too, but the amount spent on food advertising is far higher.

[smirnoff]

mine have pocket money, mine also choose something other then crisps and chocolate, give them the choice and most of the time they will go for fruit..
its not about the ads, its about education of the parents! mine will also tell me what is "healthy" or "unhealthy"

[Chell]

I think it is important to offer children choice as well as saying no we can't have this. When we are shopping I try to allow DS/DD to make choices about what we buy so it isn't all no, no, no. They will chose what type of veg we have for dinner, what type of bread they want for their packed lunch, which flavour juice we buy.....

At least that way they still have the ability to chose for themselves, albeit 'controlled' choice.

[Ravenfire]

I can understand what you are saying, however, the study was based on 60 children, to me that is a miniscule amount and really to be a realistic study should have been done on a larger scale. Furthermore the age range selected is actually when a lot of children start to put on weight. If we were to look into it further we could put it not just down to food they are eating but also the exercise they are getting.

I believe that you could show a child any food, it doesn't necessarily have to be a "bad" food at at that age they probably would eat more.

I have three children, a stepson and loads of nieces and nephews and I can honestly say I have never noticed an increase in their appetities after watching an advert on television for junk food.

[missymum22]

im not a health freak. my children are allowed a Maccy D's and chocolate and cake......but they eat in moderation, advertising means nothing in this house, i do not believe that we are swayed to a product because of who is on the front of the box.

[smirnoff]

I agree it's up to parents - it's how much promotional information we have to fight against that troubles me. Advertisers don't do it for fun, marketing works. According to recent research, obese and overweight children who watch food adverts on TV more than double their food intake afterwards. The same study also found that children of normal weight upped their eating by 84 per cent too, so I can't just shrug it off on the basis that my kid isn't fat... (yet), either. http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/food_and_drink/reports/diet_nutrition_and_safety/tv_ads_affect_eating_news_article_557_113628.jsp

Education about healthy eating is important too, but the amount spent on food advertising is far higher.
this study is flawed, for SOOO many reasons.

[Ravenfire]

Don't get me wrong, I think there is a lot of needless advertising - I wish toys were not advertised on the TV as much as well! However, I still think education of food products would be a better way to tackle this then signing a petition to stop adverts.

[Chell]

Education about healthy eating is important too, but the amount spent on food advertising is far higher.

What about exercise? I am sure that lack of exercise is the problem with many people these days. Too much time spent on games consoles, driving everywhere, time in front of the TV and using gadgets in the home to save time/energy.

[smirnoff]

so who does the food shopping in your house? do you not buy "unhealthy" stuff? Maybe the best answer is to limit the amount of tv that your kids watch

[jd28]

I'm encouraged that so many people do seem to be managing to negotiate the food minefield successfully. (I'm not sure I'd have chosen fruit over Wagon Wheels as a child if offered the choice. I just don't have biscuits in the house now, else I'd eat 'em!)

Children are undeniably getting fatter though. The total number of obese children has doubled since 1982, and a government report recently predicted that, by 2050, 70% of girls and 55% of boys will be obese or overweight. I'm not going to suggest that marketing is the only factor (personally, I find the fact that many children never walk anywhere these days a bit worrying, so I agree about exercise), but I think it's important. What do you think are the causes?

[smirnoff]

lack of exercise, schools selling off playing fields, too many paedophiles... there are 100s of reasons..

[missymum22]

the modern world is the cause....as someone else said..gadgets to make things easier/quicker, the dangers of letting your children out to play on their own, the cost of things so you work longer hours......

nothing will ever be the same as 10-20 years ago.

[Ravenfire]

I honestly think it's lifestyle as a whole that's causing it. Television, computers, cars, take-aways, processed foods and general apathy by some parents it has to be said to proper home cooking.

When I was younger I was out and about all the time, rarely sat in to watch TV although even back then I could be a book worm. Our meals were all home cooked, we very rarely had take-aways and we didn't have computers.

I also think a big part of the problem is that a lot of parents have a problem saying "no" to their children. Children rule the house far more than they ever used to.

[missymum22]

I honestly think it's lifestyle as a whole that's causing it. Television, computers, cars, take-aways, processed foods and general apathy by some parents it has to be said to proper home cooking.

When I was younger I was out and about all the time, rarely sat in to watch TV although even back then I could be a book worm. Our meals were all home cooked, we very rarely had take-aways and we didn't have computers.

I also think a big part of the problem is that a lot of parents have a problem saying "no" to their children. Children rule the house far more than they ever used to.

didn't have computers:smiley-fa

[Ravenfire]

Well ok yes they were just coming out when I was younger, the ZX80 I think it was (showing my age now) but I was far more interested at that age in getting out and about and being a tomboy, climbing trees, playing football and beating my brother up. :cheesy:

[missymum22]

Well ok yes they were just coming out when I was younger, the ZX80 I think it was (showing my age now) but I was far more interested at that age in getting out and about and being a tomboy, climbing trees, playing football and beating my brother up. :cheesy:

i used to beat my sister up as a hobby:cheesy:

thats why i wasnt fat....she soon learned to fight back....hence my fat ass now!:hysterica

[jd28]

I never played out much - too many busy roads and I had my nose stuck in a book - no advertising in the Famous Five, unless you count ginger beer. We also had a ZX80 - again, no product placement in Manic miner (unless you count subtle promotion of Surbiton...hum).

I did walk alone a mile or so to and from school from the age of nine though, and later with my little sister. My mum showed me a route down all the back lanes and playing field to avoid the traffic - rather different worries in those days.

I remember always wanting the sugary cereals which were advertised, but we very rarely got them except in the school holidays, when I guess we were more wearing, and were watching a lot more TV!

[jd28]

Thank you to everyone who got in touch with their MPs on the issue of marketing of unhealthy foods to children, and everyone who shared their thoughts and experiences here.

214 MPs signed the Early Day Motion in support, and the Government has been put under pressure to take action. Although the Bill has not passed through to the next stage, we've made a vital step forward in making sure children are protected in the future, by keeping this issue high on the political agenda.

Tackling the marketing of unhealthy foods is just one part of the fight against childhood obesity, but it is an essential part of any solution. Which?'s latest research shows that 83% of consumers think that irresponsible marketing of unhealthy foods makes it harder to encourage children to eat a healthy diet, and 84% of people think the Government needs to do more to control the way unhealthy foods are marketed to children.

Which's Kids' Food Campaign will continue to call on the Government and food companies to take action to end irresponsible promotions of unhealthy foods to children.http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/food_and_drink/campaigns/kids_food/about_the_campaign/kids_food_campaign_559_64556.jsp

[Sarah]

My children are almost 16, 13 and 4 and they fully understand how important it is to eat heathily and exercise. They do like chocolate, crisps and the occasional McDonalds but on the whole they eat a healthy diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, very little red meat and as I follow the Weightwatchers healthy eating plan we all eat a fairly low fat diet too.
I totally agree with what Toni says though, it's about educating the parents and the children. I work at the local Morrisons store and I'm shocked at what people buy on a regular basis.
It's worrying also that 80% of parents of overweight children don't realise there is a problem!
When I was at school an overweight child was so rare that they stood out like a sore thumb, now sadly it's much more the norm.
I do think kids these days spend less time out and about due to too many tv choices, playstation etc and also the fact that it's not as safe as when I was a child and there is far more traffic on the roads (showing my age now).
Advertising is a pain in the bum but at the end of the day it's down to us as parents to make the right choices for our family and take the time to explain to the children why we've made those particular choises.
My four year old already knows that although sausages are her favourite food, they are bad for her and she only has them every now and then as a treat and she's perfectly happy with that.
Sarah x