Study: Web sites market junk food to kids [SIZE=-1]A new survey of food company Web sites from Consumers International reports a "widespread marketing of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt to children, including to children under 12." According to the report, New Media, Same Old Tricks*, the companies lure kids to the promotional Web sites through cartoon characters, celebrities, free downloads and other gifts, and activities that require registration?some of which ask children to give information about themselves that could be used for future marketing. Several of the companies covered in the survey have commitments to reduce their marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children. Consumers International says the companies aren't necessarily breaking their own commitments, but it concludes that the "survey clearly demonstrates how limited their commitments are."
Consumers International is reiterating its call for the World Health Organization to develop international guidelines that would restrict advertising and marketing of foods high in sugar, fat, or sodium to children.
?Kevin McCarthy, associate editor
Read more on efforts to control what foods are marketed to kids. And we'd like to hear from you: What do you think about these junk-food Web sites? Should the government set standards to control how companies market food to children?
*links to PDF
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