Marmite spreads fear

Advertisements featuring a giant blob of Marmite have left children "terrified" and having nightmares.

The TV campaign centres on a large brown object resembling the monster in Fifties science fiction film The Blob. In one, a couple run from the blob before the woman, seeing it is the yeast-based spread, jumps into it. The commercial ends with the slogan: "You either love it or hate it".

Six viewers told The Advertising Standards Authority their children, aged two and three, would not watch TV and had nightmares after seeing the advertisement. The ASA ruled the commercials should not be shown during programmes made for children.