Percy Pig may be for the chop - but meet his porky parents

A favourite of children and adults alike sweets Percy Pigs could be set for the axe, but M&S are launching a new version of the treat anyway featuring Percy's moustachioed dad and pearl necklace wearing mother.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is considering banning cartoon characters from promoting sweets amid plans to reduce obesity in children.

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Call for ban on cartoon characters used to promote junk food to children
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"Licenced characters, cartoon characters and celebrities" are being targeted as part of a wider government strategy

Percy Pig is one of many brands in which playful cartoons are part of an overarching marketing strategy, which could also see the Colin the Caterpillar chocolate cake getting a makeover.

Despite this, M&S are set to launch a new sweet - "Percy's Parents".

The new faces on their confectionery counter cost £1.65 for a 170g bag and contain 750 calories.

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The original Percy Pigs have hit the headlines in the past for the wrong reasons. The original recipe contained actual pig, in the form of pork gelatin, although a green-eared vegetarian version, using beeswax and pea protein, was introduced, in 2011.

In 2016, Mike Joyce, of rock band The Smiths, lambasted M&S for the recipe still containing the animal-unfriendly ingredient. The 'Meat Is Murder' drummer said: "I'm sure kids would rather eat a sweet called 'Percy Pig' that didn't contain bits of dead pig?”

The retailer at the time promised to pass on the drummer’s comments onto their food team.

Eventually, in 2018, the product was changed to exist as one, vegetarian, version.