$1.6 billion spent marketing drinks to children
The Federal Trade Commission has released the results of a study on food marketing to children and adolescents. It show that the 44 biggest US food and beverage companies spent NZ$2.16 billion in 2006 marketing their products to children. A third of this was for carbonated drinks, along with fast food restaurant meals and breakfast cereals. Most of the cereal ads were targetted at children under 12 years.
Read more: NZ Herald, 30 July 2008
Read more: Press release, Federal Trade Commission, 29 July 2008
Read the FTC report (PDF) Marketing Food to Children and Adolescents: A Review of Industry Expenditures, Activities, and Self-Regulation
Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood comment on the FTC report
The Federal Trade Commission’s report paints a frightening picture of American childhood immersed in sophisticated, integrated marketing campaigns for food and beverages. The food industry exploits every technology and technique at its disposal to insinuate its brands into the fabric of children’s lives.
Read more: Press release, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, 29 July 2008