Lots of attention gets focused on the tobacco industry and how advertisements appeal to the kids, but that's not the only industry making the unhealthy irresistible. There is, of course, those cartoon characters that promote sugary goodness.The BBC reports that a new report conducted by Which? is focusing on those cartoon icons and accusing them "of not aiding the fight against childhood obesity." They note that out of the 19 characters used by food companies, none of them helped promote healthier foods, and how the foods they promote easily suck up much of a child's suggested max for salt and sugar (nothing surprising there). But they are careful to note that they don't want us to lose the characters we've come to love over half a century, but rather to see them promoting some healthy products. Meanwhile, the Food and Drink Federation said it was "baffled as to why Which? wants to take all the fun out of food." Well that's just a bit of an overreaction.
I have to say, Which? has a point. I remember giving my parents a heck of a fight over the "no sugar cereal on weekdays" rule. I was obsessed with sugar cereals, the toys, the whole thing. I wanted Snap, Crackle, and Pop toys, I would've eaten Honeycombs 3 times a day if I could. And it certainly wasn't just cereal -- I can't count how many jugs of Kool Aid I drank to get a special pitcher and glasses....
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