A new report from the Institute of Medicine reveals, shockingly, that the food industry markets its high fat, high sugar, low nutrient food to children.
And guess what -- IT WORKS, putting children's long-term health at risk.
This is just crazy. It took a congressional directive to allow the government to conduct such a study - many variations of which have been well known for years. But the power and influence behind ane $11 billion dollar child marketing industry has somehow been able to protect itself and effectively divert attention from its role in the rapidly advancing the childhood obesity epidimic. And even now, there's no telling if government will finally begin to hold industy, and all other influencing parties, accountable. Why does it take dozens of years and MILLIONS of dollars in studies to say once again what any basic logic can tell -- advertising to kids works.
So if this report offers "the most comprehensive review to date of the scientific evidence on the influence of food marketing on diets of children and youth," will Congress -- after almost 25 years -- once again favor what is right over what is politically acceptable and choose to ban all junk-food ads targeting kids?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Too much money is involved. I think it is the parents that need education.
darwinsmoustache
I can't see movies by myself. It's almost like you need someone there to make it a real experience. Strange.
darwinsmoustache
Everyone has a role to play.
Also from the study: Noting that many factors shape children's dietary habits and that leadership from both the public and the private sectors will be needed to redirect the nation's focus toward healthier products, the committee also called on the government to enhance nutritional standards, incentives, and public policies to promote the marketing of healthier foods and beverages. In addition, schools, parents, and the media should work with government and industry to pursue initiatives that support healthful diets for children and youth. If voluntary efforts by industry fail to successfully shift the emphasis of television advertising during children's programming away from high-calorie, low-nutrient products to healthier fare, Congress should enact legislation to mandate this change on both broadcast and cable television.
Post a Comment