Advertisers to ditch junk food for kids
US government has put pressure on food companies to cut back on aggressive advertising of junk food to kids
US government has put pressure on food companies to cut back on aggressive advertising of junk food to kids
The administration issued proposed voluntary principles which would turn children’s food advertising on its head by calling for advertisements to be for foods that “make a meaningful contribution to a healthful diet” and minimise those ingredients that could have an negative impact on weight and health in later life.
The interagency working group that released the principles is made up of the Federal Trade Commission, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration and US Department of Agriculture. It put together the proposal at the prompting of Congress.
If implemented, the guidelines would mean a revolution in food advertising to children, which is now dominated by ads for salty chips and sugary cereals, drinks and yoghurt.
While obesity rates have largely stopped rising, 10.4 percent of US children aged 2 to 5 are obese, 19.6 percent of 6-11 year olds are obese and 18.1 percent of 12-19 year olds are obese, according to 2007-2008 data from the CDC. Children were defined as being up to age 17, and the principles were to be implemented by 2016.
