New website to protect kids from junk food marketing
From the website:
Children are vulnerable to advertising. They are less able than adults to fully understand that the purpose of advertising is not to inform but to persuade, and to ultimately sell a product.
Studies show that children are much more likely to want to eat food that comes in branded packaging than food with no branding – even if it is the same product.
A study of 3 to 5 year olds showed that over 75% of children preferred French fries in McDonalds branded wrapping, compared to the just over 10% who preferred fries from plain packaging - the food was exactly the same!. More info here; http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/161/8/792
The same study also showed that children with more TVs in their home were more likely to prefer the McDonalds-branded food packaging. An extensive survey of the evidence from the World Health Organization (WHO) confirms this.
The WHO report on Marketing of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages to Children explains that advertising promoting foods high in fat, sugar or salt directly influence children’s attitudes and behaviour – they want and ultimately eat these unhealthy foods. This can be a direct influence with children buying the foods, sweets and drinks themselves or asking their parents for these foods.
Visit the website here: http://junkfoodgeneration.org
Download the World Health Organization report : WHO - Marketing Junk food to kids (PDF file)
Matt Emery - Author and Caveman
I think it’s a fantastic idea, children need to be protected from junk food, we’re creating an obese and unhealthy future generation, and that needs to be changed, some countries in Europe are considering to forbid junk food publicity, or at least demand some specific conditions, one of those conditions is to forbid the combination junk food + toy, or something that is atractive to children. If you see most of the publicity made by junk food brands, has little toys and little gifts directed to children, i believe that’s a trap, and it shouldn’t be allowed.
Comment by Helder — June 2, 2008 @ 04:23 PDT