What Gazette readers said about changing packaging to help people make healthier food choices

Although 56% of 477 people think companies need to do more to encourage families to make healthier choices while shopping, the majority don’t seem to think a cartoon character on a box makes that much difference.

The supermarket has said by spring it will have removed all cartoon characters from their own-brand cereal boxes in a bid to tackle the country's growing childhood obesity crisis.

But readers say the issue is the ingredients inside the box – not the design on the packaging.

And a lot of people have argued that it is the adults doing the shopping and they won’t be swayed by a fun-looking cartoon character on the box anyway.

While most say more should be done to encourage healthier eating, it doesn’t sound like Echo readers think changing the characters on the cereal box is the way to go.

Here’s what Gazette readers have said:

David Simon: “End of the day it’s the parents responsibility to shop for food not the child.”

Simon Keenan: “It's not down to the companies, it's down to the parents but kids will eat what ever they want does not matter if it has cartoon characters on. Chocolate is chocolate, sweet is sweet.”

Valerie Prudham: “Won't make any difference to the content of the boxes. So what's the point.”

Margaret Marshall :“It doesn't make any difference, it's what's inside.”