Published on 05/30/2022 at 9:21 p.m.,
Reading 2 mins.
A new survey carried out by the Alliance of Consumer Organizations reveals that food products intended for children are generally too concentrated in sugar, salt or fat.
94% of children’s food products are too salty, too fatty and/or too sweet. This is revealed by a recent survey conducted by the Alliance of Consumer Organizations (which brings together several Swiss consumer associations). who listed “all baked and dairy products, breakfast cereals, beverages, snacks, etc. whose child-friendly packaging specifically targets the youngest”.
Result: out of no less than 344 products analysed, only 20 meet the criteria established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Of these, 64% would be in the orange and red (DE) areas of the scale and only 13% in the green or light green (AB) area. If this symbol makes it possible to quickly identify the nutritional value of a food, it is not present on all products. The Alliance of Consumer Organizations is calling for the Nutri-score to become mandatory on all products intended for children.
A marketing concern
Advertising and packaging seem to contribute to high consumption of products with too much sugar or salt in children. According a study by the University of Hamburgchildren aged 3 to 13 who have a television and the Internet see an average of 17 spots or advertising messages per day for foodstuffs, including 15 for products harmful to health, can we read in the press release .
The food industry tends to shape the image of products in such a way that even small children can detect a food product intended for them. Drawings, mascots, games on the packaging or even gifts inside… Everything is done to arouse the desire of the little ones, as revealed a french study end of 2021.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
WHO recommendations
In order to deal with this scourge and to protect children from the risks of obesity or poor health, the Alliance of Consumer Organizations calls for several measures to be put in place:
- Make the Nutri-score mandatory on all products aimed at children with enticing packaging;
- Allow advertising only for products that meet WHO criteria. And, conversely, prohibit any health or nutritional claims on those who do not meet them;
- Include in the next revision of the Foodstuffs Act that the Federal Council can, if necessary, restrict marketing aimed at children;
- It is up to the Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (FSVO) to turn away from ineffective voluntary measures to demand binding efforts and targets from the food industry.