U.S. Seeks Stricter Limits on Food Ads Aimed at Children

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

The federal government proposed sweeping guidelines on Thursday aimed at altering how the food industry advertises its products to children, seeking to promote healthier options and restrict the marketing of foods — like sugary cereals and fast-food meals — that can lead to childhood obesity.

The guidelines, which would be voluntary, could push companies to speed up changes already under way to cut sugar and salt and add fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.

The proposal, released by the Federal Trade Commission, encompasses all forms of advertising to children and teenagers, including commercials on television shows, company Web sites and online games that promote products, often discreetly, and even the cartoon characters that appear on many cereal boxes and other packaged goods.

The food industry immediately pushed back against the proposal, saying that it was already taking important steps to address the issues. But industry clearly felt pressured by the proposal, even though the guidelines were intended to be voluntary.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/business/29label.html

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In fact, the Nordic countries (Sweden, etc.) ban ANY commercial sponsorship on children's TV.

[TheCanadianLiberal]

1. GOOD!

I hate letting kids watch the children's channels because of the advertising. Typicaly I'll just download the shows and let them watch suff without the ads.

[AllTooEasy]

2. A good start, but how about legislation for better parenting?

I used to scream and whine about getting more ice cream, candy, junk food, etc...and my parents told me "NO, be quiet, eat your vegetables, or you will suffer the consequences".

It worked like a charm. Numerous track medals and an athletic scholarship later...

And those eating habits have carried on into my 40s. Folks still say I look like I'm in my late 20s (which I don't believe). Great/Disciplined Parenting needs to be the law.

[ohbill]

4. I hate to use the phrase “think of the children”…

…but consider the fact that children really don’t have a choice as to what they eat. Their parents buy the breakfast, the school (or the parents) provides the lunch menu, and the parents cook the dinner. My parents made me collect, wash and fold the entire family’s laundry by age 9 but didn’t even trust me near the microwave until I entered high school. I was also very naïve about what I was eating until I reached the end of my high school years.

(Also: why advertise to kids? They have no income.)

Admit it — were you looking at the nutrition facts before you got your degree? High school health classes will discuss sodium and fat intake, but even the most rigorous curricula don’t cover such topics as ketosis¹ or fructose consumption².

If kids don’t see it on television, they won’t want it as badly, and if kids don’t want it, parents won’t buy it. It’s no substitute for parenting, but it helps.

¹ Ketosis kicks in when you go on one of those fad “no carbs” diet. The main side effect is that you have horrible breath.
² Apples are naturally high in fructose, but the enormous amount of fiber keeps you from binging on it like you would with a cheap soda.

[Odin2005]

3. K&R +1,000,000,000,000

[defendandprotect]

5. good