A US study has found that more than half of the children’s products featuring fruit on their packaging contain no fruit at all.

The discovery strengthens an ongoing campaign in the US to prevent misleading claims by pressure group The Prevention Institute. The institute, which conducted the survey, found 51 per cent of the most heavily promoted kids’ foods and drinks did not contain any fruit while a further 16 per cent contained ‘minimal” amounts despite fruit dominating packaging.

“The packages might lead a parent to believe these products are a healthier option for their children, when many do not actually deliver any of the nutritional benefits of whole fruit,” wrote the authors of the study.

The institute is now calling for a more stringent regulatory guidelines to put an end to misleading imagery or even claims on product packaging.