|
Media and entertainment giant Walt Disney Co's new steps to limitjunk food advertising on TV shows geared toward children is thelatest salvo in the nation's fight against childhood obesity. Butit left critics questioning whether the moves were enough to cutthe growing waistlines of US youth. The new initiative, announced on Tuesday in a high-profile eventfeaturing first lady Michelle Obama, will end some junk-foodadvertising on Disney television, radio and online programsintended for children under the age of 12. Disney is also launching its own "Mickey Check" label for food itdeems to be nutritious to help promote certain healthier foods ingrocery stores and other retailers. The plan follows New York City's recent proposal to ban jumbo-sizedsugary drinks. The growing campaign -- ranging from voluntaryindustry action to government and policy steps -- aim to curbconsumption of high-calorie, low-nutrition foods that play a rolein the nation's obesity epidemic. The Disney announcement confirmed details sources gave Reuters onMonday and landed amid increasing pressure on the food and beverageindustries to promote healthier products. The new guidelines, which start in 2015, set limits on the numberof calories and amount of fat and added sugar for main and sidedishes and snacks. Kraft Foods Inc's Oscar Mayer Lunchables andCapri Sun products, for example, would not make the cut, Disneysaid. But some health advocates criticized Disney's efforts, saying theywould do little to shift children's eating habits and would not beimplemented soon enough. "Three more years is a really long time," said Josh Golin,Associate Director for Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. The move was welcomed by Obama and other health advocates forputting the might of the $41 billion company behind fightingobesity in children and teenagers. Nearly one-third of US children are overweight or obese, andresearch shows youth are increasingly being diagnosed with Type 2diabetes and other chronic diseases related to obesity that wereonce thought of as only adult conditions. Data has shown junk foodads as one major contributor to the problem. Obama, who has championed healthier eating and exercise habits aspart of her "Let's Move" initiative, and Disney Chief Executive BobIger both said they hoped the Disney effort would spur other foodand beverage companies to do more. Various industry groups representing food and beverage makers saidtheir members already take steps to limit promotions to childrenunder 12. The Grocery Manufacturers Association, echoing the sentiment ofother industry groups, said its members welcome Disney'sannouncement and "enthusiastically support" Obama's initiative. Last year, top US food and drink makers including Kraft Foods,Coca-Cola and Kellogg Co agreed to industry-created voluntarynutrition guidelines for products marketed toward children underthe age of 12. But the food, beverage and restaurant industries asa whole have successfully fought most government oversight on foodadvertising to children. Children's choices A 2006 Institute of Medicine report said junk food marketingcontributed to childhood obesity, and consumers and healthadvocates increasingly are calling on food, beverage and restaurantfirms to limit marketing to children. Fast-food restaurants, in particular, have been under fire forusing free toys to promote its meals for children. Some, such asJack in the Box, have stopped offering them. Industry leaderMcDonald's Corp still gives away toys but has reduced the frenchfry portion and added apple slices to its popular Happy Meals forkids. Packaged food companies have been reformulating some products byreducing calories, sugar and sodium while adding fiber and wholegrains. Some of those products have failed to find customers. Earlier this year Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's largestretailers, announced with some fanfare that it would label certainfoods such as eggs as "Great For You" and try to lower prices onhealthier food options. Disney, which owns the ABC-TV network and a host of cable channels,introduced voluntary guidelines in 2006 that prohibited licensingof Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters for foods that do notmeet minimum nutritional requirements. That helped sell more than 2 billon servings of Disney-licensedfruits and vegetables since then, Iger said at the event, whichfeatured a Mickey Mouse character making yogurt parfaits surroundedby buckets of lemons, oranges and apples. Disney's new effort will not allow advertising during children'sprogramming on its networks, including ABC and Disney XD and itschild-focused websites, for foods that fail to meet minimumnutrition requirements. Margo Wootan, nutrition policy director at the Center for Sciencein the Public Interest, said parents will still see some ads forsugar-filled cereals, canned pasta and other less healthy foods.Overall, however, it's a landmark step, she said. "This puts Disney ahead of the pack of media outlets and should bea wake-up call to Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network to do the same,"said Wootan, whose organization has lobbied for better nutritionstandards for food eaten by children. Wootan said the announcement is a "game changer" because it is thefirst time "a major media company is admitting they haveresponsibility for how they talk to children. In the past, themedia companies were pretty much just pointing the finger at foodcompanies." Time Warner Inc's Cartoon Network said it adopted its ownguidelines in 2007 but did not offer any details. Viacom Inc'sNickelodeon had no immediate comment. Iger, who spoke to reporters after the event flanked by topregulators from the Federal Trade Commission and the FederalCommunications Commission, said Disney's action could sidestep theneed for political action. "If everyone does their small part, together we can create hugechange without having the government step in to directly regulateor legislate our efforts," he said. Susan Levin, director of nutrition education for the PhysiciansCommittee for Responsible Medicine and a registered dietician, saidDisney's voluntary effort would barely make a dent in children'sobesity and that the government would have to do more to make anysweeping impact. "I would really love to see a company take a huge step and say'We're done advertising anything that's not a whole food -- afruit, a vegetable, a bean or grain -- we're done advertising thatto kids'," she said. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as China Stretch Marks Derma Roller , China Cavitation RF, and more. For more , please visit Ultrasonic Cavitation Slimming Machine today!
Related Articles -
China Stretch Marks Derma Roller, China Cavitation RF,
|
