TV ads pitch unhealthy food to children on ‘massive scale’

UNHEALTHY foods which contribute to childhood obesity are being marketed to youngsters in Ireland on a “massive scale”, the European Heart Network said yesterday.

TV adverts, often linking products to cartoon and film heroes, are encouraging children to demand foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat, the report found.

The report - The Marketing of Unhealthy Food to Children in Europe - used data from 20 countries, including Ireland.