Junk food firms are targeting children with adverts for Haribo sweets and Coca-Cola on YouTube , an investigation has found . The adverts would breach the strict guidelines in place for television which ban them being screened close to children ’ s programs . But there are no rules in place for YouTube and they are being played before popular short films watched by up to five million children . Experts say that the adverts give children a subconscious craving and make them inclined to ‘ grab the nearest sugary thing around. ’ Vloggers ’ sites such as Zoella 's - followed by millions of girls on YouTube - are featuring adverts for products high in sugar like Coca-Cola and Haribo , and even gambling websites . An investigation found that video blogs - known as vlogs – popular with children aged 11 to 17 are being hijacked by 30 second adverts for junk food and online gambling sites . They are being played before popular films uploaded by a personality called Zoella , real name Zoe Suggs , a 24-year-old from Brighton . She records several films a week about what ’ s in her handbag , her thoughts on having babies and whether she should spend time with her best friend or boyfriend which are watched regularly by at least five million children and teenagers . Before watching the film , viewers are first played a 30 second advert which is chosen at random . Although some of these are for harmless products such as Dolmio pasta sauce or hair dye , others are for Haribo , Coca-Cola and for an online gambling website , according to the Independent newspaper . But a spokesman for YouTube said gambling adverts weren ’ t shown to children and teenagers as they could only be seen by viewers who had confirmed they were over 18 . A third of children are overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school and the rates are amongst the worst in Western Europe . Although the watchdog Ofcom has enforced strict rules banning junk food adverts being screened close to children ’ s TV programs , they do not apply to YouTube . Campaigners are calling for the regulations to be toughed-up . Experts have warned of the dangers of advertising such products to young people , adding if they were broadcast on terrestrial children ’ s television , they would likely break Advertising Standards Authority rules . Professor Jason Halford , a health behaviour expert at the University of Liverpool , said : ‘ Advertising does affect children in terms of what they purchase and reinforcing the brand . ‘ But even beyond brand , our research has found it makes them grab the nearest sugary thing around , irrespective of their appetite. ’ Christine Blower , chair of the National Union of Teachers said : ‘ With approximately 30 per cent of UK children apparently either overweight or obese , it should be incumbent on the next Government to toughen the regulations so that children are not bombarded with junk food marketing when they are online. ’ Graham MacGregor , chair of Action on Sugar said : ‘ Regulations about online advertising need to mirror that of TV advertising. ’ It is unclear the vloggers are aware of the products advertised before their posts and there was no response from their management companies when contacted by The Independent .
Adverts feature products high in sugar like Coca-Cola and Haribo . Children watching video bloggers also being unwittingly exposed to them . These adverts , if broadcast on terrestrial children 's TV , would be likely to break Advertising Standards Authority rules .