You have probably heard or seen something about it in the Jeugdjournaal:From 2017, well-known children's heroes may no longer be depicted on unhealthy food, such as cookies, desserts, chocolate sprinkles and sweets. So you will no longer see Elza, Anna and Olaf on these packaging. Mega Mindy, Kabouter Plop, Peppa Pig and K3 are also no longer allowed to make the snacks attractive to children. However, these favorite characters will soon be found in supermarkets. Indeed, they may be depicted on healthy products. This, of course, to increase the appeal of these products. What do you think, no children's heroes on unhealthy food, will that work?
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Do your children prefer the unhealthy food with nice pictures to the standard packaged delicacies? Before the decision was made not to place children's heroes on snacks, it was examined whether pictures actually had any appeal. In an earlier Youth News you saw how children were given the choice. They had to choose from products with or without a children's hero image. As expected, almost all children opted for the product with the child-friendly packaging. Not surprising, of course, that a nice picture has a certain appeal.
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The change should be implemented in the course of 2017. Packaging of products intended for children up to the age of 7 may not contain images of children's heroes at all. No children's heroes on unhealthy food, but also no children's heroes on healthy products. And in the category of children between the ages of 7 and 13, this is only allowed if the products are not too unhealthy.
The question that remains then is… what is not too unhealthy? Guidelines will also have to be drawn up about this, and what will be devised to sell unhealthy food?
To what extent are you influenced by your children on what you take from the supermarket? Do you get carried away in the supermarket by what they want? Or do you keep your feet up and do you - alone- make the shopping choices? The battle with children in the supermarket will probably decrease as a result of this decision. But of course they will still like to take nice things home with them, whether it has a nice picture on it or not. Children know all too well how delicious sweet and salty taste. There is no need for attractive packaging. Or are the children's heroes on unhealthy food simply associated with goodies and will we be able to gradually change that?
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And will the (extra) pictures of children's heroes on packaging of fruit and vegetables seduce your children? Will more of these end up in your home by making these healthy products attractive?
And, more importantly, will your children also eat fruit and vegetables more easily (without grumbling)? Or do the pictures have no influence on this again? I am curious about how this will turn out and also your opinion about it!
Image used via Shutterstock
