U.S. Food Companies Promise to Limit Advertising to Kids

Friday, August 03, 2007

Nancy L. Brown, PhD

It is about time! Posted on the Council of Better Business Bureaus web site are the pledges by some of the biggest food and drink companies, including McDonald's, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and General Mills to regulate their advertising aimed at children under age 12 in an attempt to help reduce childhood obesity. This seems like a step in the right direction, but I can't keep from wondering if the efforts will go far enough.

Of course, the companies all agree to do different things, but some seemed pretty right on. For example, McDonald's said all advertising directed at children under age 12 would focus on healthy dietary choices. PepsiCo said their advertising would emphasize healthy lifestyles, and Coca-Cola said it would only advertise water and juice to kids.

Now maybe we can get some of the media companies to limit the use of licensed cartoon characters to promote low-nutrition foods, ya think?

Photo Credit: jeri leandera

Tags: Healthline, obesity, nutrition, advertising

Labels: Advertising, Obesity

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