ePolitix.com Stakeholders respond to a suggestion by experts that Britain's children are suffering from a "junk culture" of processed food, computer games and overly-competitive education.

In a letter to the Telegraph, 110 teachers, psychologists and children's authors said government action was needed to prevent the end of childhood.

Stakeholder Response: Which?

Which? food campaigns team leader Miranda Watson said: "Our research and feedback from parents tells us that the marketing of unhealthy foods to childrenis a great concern.

"Which? research has shown that children are bombarded with irresponsible marketing messages encouraging them to eat unhealthily from the moment they rise until bedtime.

"Whether they are watching TV, playing a game, or checking their emails they are constant targets.

"It is little surprise that it is estimated that one million children will be obese by 2010.

"Parents have had enough, with 79 per cent wanting TV ads for unhealthy foods to be stopped during the times that children are most likely to be watching TV.

"Food and marketing companies need to be more socially responsible."

Stakeholder Response: British Retail Consortium

BRC public affairs executive Alison Gardner said: "The BRC and its members are working closely with the UK government to make healthy eating easier and more enjoyable and accessible for children.

"We are actively involved with the Department of Health's Food and Drink Advertising and Promotion Forum and chair the 'Point of Sale' working group.

"Last week, along with the Department of Health and the Association of Convenience Stores, we hosted a seminar to explore the possibility of developing and disseminating best practice for in-store and point of sale promotions, particularly amongst small retailers.

"Retailers continue to provide a range of children's food with nutrition guidelines for salt, added sugars, fat and saturated fat.

"Retailers try to provide customers’ with a wide range of products however it must be remembered that increased consumer education and awareness remains the key to reducing the long-established social norms and customs."

Stakeholder Response: Professional Association of Teachers

PAT general secretary Philip Parkin said: "Many children today have enormous advantages in terms of their physical health and material well-being.

"However, I also believe that, despite the pressures we put on children and our desire to protect them, this country values young people less than some of our European neighbours.

"Many young people are becoming detached from a society that increasingly regards them as a nuisance rather than as individuals to be valued and encouraged.

"Children need space to be children. My impression is that in Scandinavia, for example, children are generally held to be of greater value than they are in the UK.

"Something is wrong. The BMA has said that 10 per cent of children have psychiatric disorders and are experiencing symptoms of severe depression.

"Nearly 400,000 children are on drugs such as Ritalin and Prozac.

"Twenty-five years ago the average age that people fell ill with depression was 30.

"Now the average age at which mental health problems appear is 14.

"A study in the Journal of Children’s Services claimed Britain was 21st among 25 members of the European Union for child well-being.

"My own childhood in the 1950s and 1960s wasn't idyllic, but it was certainly less complicated with fewer pressures than the lives children lead now.

"The values we pass on to children are the ones that will shape this country.

"We need a debate about how we treat our children – for their sake and because it’s a debate about the future.

"The Children's Society's Good Childhood Inquiry is therefore welcome.

"Crucially, it will listen to the views of children. Its recommendations can’t come soon enough."

Stakeholder Response: ATL

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "ATL is concerned about the impact of today's junk culture on our children.

"We believe that children should have a right to childhood - this was the subject of a vigorous and unanimous debate at our annual conference in April.

"Children should be allowed to enjoy childish things.

"This is important for their development, and needs to be taken into account by policy-makers and parents alike.

"We have long argued that too much testing in schools is not doing our children any good - academically or developmentally.

"Today's over-prescriptive national curriculum does not give enough freedom for children to learn through play, particularly in their early school years.

"Children need time to enjoy child's play and we will fight for their right to do so."