21 May 2013 - Food Navigator - UK children's foods often higher in fat and sugar, study finds

The researchers examined the nutritional content of yoghurts, ready meals and cereal bars from seven UK supermarkets, and categorised them as children's or non-children's products based on their promotional nature or information on the packaging.

Children's products were identified by links with children's media, use of characters or celebrities for marketing, lunchbox promotions and statements like 'little', 'kids' or a specified age range.

"Yoghurts, cereal bars and ready meals marketed towards children had significantly different nutritional profiles from those aimed at the general population", the study's authors wrote.  "In most cases, products marketed to children were higher in sugars, fat, saturated fat and/or sodium, with the exception of children's ready meals, which had lower sodium content than non-children's".