‘Unethical’ junk food packaging manipulates children into craving sweets, report claims

Ferrero, which makes Kinder Surprise eggs, was one of the companies criticised in the report. Photograph: David Sillitoe/The Guardian

Food companies are using bright colours and cartoon characters in an “unethical” effort to manipulate children into wanting the sweets and crisps they make, a report has claimed.

Bite Back, a campaign group that is part of the chef Jamie Oliver’s empire, asked nutrition experts to analyse 262 sweet food products sold in the UK with packaging likely to appeal to children made by the 10 biggest food companies.