Sugar, spice, stuff not so nice

PROCESSED sugary and salty treats won out over nutritional snacks at a lunch box challenge for primary school children yesterday.

Twelve children aged five to 12 were given the chance to create their ideal packed lunch at the 18th Consumers International World Congress in Sydney.

Brightly coloured packaged foods, including muesli bars, sweet biscuits and crackers with cheese, were the first to be picked.

The lunch box challenge aimed to draw attention to the effect of food advertising and packaging on children, as consumer organisations from around the world call for a World Health Organisation code on junk food marketing to children.

Clare Hughes, senior food policy officer at Choice, said there was a lot of public support among parents for restrictions on food commercials and promotions aimed at children.

"In Australia, Choice wants effective restrictions on all forms of food marketing to children, focusing on unhealthy foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar," Ms Hughes said.

She said watching the children fill their lunch boxes showed a range of factors influenced their choices.

"Some were able to spot the healthy option and pack a healthy lunchbox but others were obviously influenced by the packaging and the bright colouring.

"The blue soft drinks were very popular," Ms Hughes said.

The children, from Bondi Public School, said they liked the treats, especially those featuring cartoon or licensed characters on the packaging.

"Even though I know it's not healthy, I just couldn't resist getting it," said Bruno, 7, of his rice bubble bar decorated with coloured-chocolate pieces.

However, Abbey and Mimi, both 6, were more nutrition-conscious in their choices.

"Normally my Mum and Dad want me to have healthy stuff," said Mimi.

"Only if I've been really good, maybe I can have a treat."

Sue Davies, of UK-based Which?, said obesity was not just a problem in affluent Western countries, but also in less developed countries such as Mexico.

"We need to restrict the promotion of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and reinforce the healthy eating messages.

"It is up to parents what their children eat, but we have done a lot of research in the UK and we've found they are really frustrated.

"They're trying to do the right thing and feed their kids healthy food but they are finding it really tough."

She said putting popular children's characters, such as Shrek, on to unhealthy food undermined parents ability to get their children to eat healthy options.

"If they were putting these characters on to healthy food and making parents' life a bit easier, instead of harder, that would be really good."