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September 29, 2011
 

 

More than 3,400 people have already asked 17 major food and beverage companies to do the right thing and agree to market only healthy products to our kids. We hope Leaders like you are also lending your voice to this important cause.
 
Confused? Here’s some background.
 
PreventObesity.net Leaders like you joined nearly 20,000 others earlier this year in support of federal principles that seek to guide companies to market only healthy products to kids.
 
On the last day the federal government accepted public comments on the proposed marketing principles, a coalition of 17 big-name food and beverage companies released their own set of marketing guidelines. The companies’ “Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative” consists of a set of nutrition criteria they have agreed to follow when marketing to kids. 
 
It’s worth noting that this is the first time these companies — which include names such as Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, General Mills and The Hershey Company — have agreed to follow a uniform set of guidelines. Experts say this is a step in the right direction. 
 
But it’s simply not enough. The guidelines are much weaker than the voluntary principles put forth by the government, and would still allow companies to advertise many unhealthy products. As our friends at the Center for Science in the Public Interest explain, the industry’s guidelines are “a transparent attempt to undermine the stronger standards” proposed by the government.
 
We think the food and beverage companies can do better. That’s why we’re asking them to step up to the healthy plate and agree to follow the federal guidelines. Please join us and spread the word to others who care about this issue.
 
 
At PreventObesity.net, we think our children deserve a healthy future, and the food and beverage companies should show they can be a part of that future.
Food Marketing