Junk food ads make pupils '˜want to lick TV'

Children said junk food advertising between family programmes was 'tempting' and made them want to 'lick the screen', a Cancer Research study of primary school pupils found.
Junk food adverts are too tempting for children. Picture: Ian RutherfordJunk food adverts are too tempting for children. Picture: Ian Rutherford
Junk food adverts are too tempting for children. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Adverts for sweet treats are banned during children’s programmes but campaigners want this extended to the 9pm watershed to allow for shows such as X Factor. Pupils from North Lanarkshire and Edinburgh were influenced by adverts to try new treats, especially if the products were endorsed by celebrities.

Linda Bauld,of Stirling University, said: “Marketing is driving this and people in Scotland understand that, with almost four in five adults supporting restrictions on junk food advertising during the hours when children are most likely to see this type of promotion.”

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