Very few foods marketed to children are getting a passing grade for their nutritional standards, according to a Center for Science in the Public Interest report released Tuesday.
In fact, the consumer watchdog group gave out failing grades to nearly three-quarters of the 128 food, restaurant and media companies it investigated. No A's were given out.
Mars Inc., a worldwide manufacturer of confectionery, pet food and other food products, received a B+ – the highest grade given out – because company policy states there is no marketing to children under 12 years old, according to the report.
Ninety-five companies received an F, mainly because they had no policy governing marketing to kids.
Report results are surprising to some, considering a number of companies, including the Campbell Soup Company (which received a C) and McDonald's (which received a C-), became part of a voluntary self-regulation system started by the Council of Better Business Bureau in 2005. The program, called the Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative, was started after regulators fielded complaints about aggressive junk food advertising.
“Despite the industry’s self-regulatory system, the vast majority of food and entertainment companies have no protections in place for children,” said Margo Wootan, CSPI nutrition policy director, in a statement. “If companies were marketing bananas and broccoli, we wouldn’t be concerned. But instead, most of the marketing is for sugary cereals, fast food, snack foods, and candy. And this junk food marketing is a major contributor to childhood obesity.”
CSPI is concerned food marketers continue to promote unhealthy food to children despite high obesity rates, according to WebMD.
Companies spend approximately $2 billion per year on marketing to children alone, and collectively spent $870 million in 2008, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
To view the full CSPI report, click here [PDF].
Sources:
WebMD. "Companies get poor grades for kids' food ads," http://children.webmd.com/news/20100309/companies-get-poor-grades-for-kids-food-ads; 09 March 2010.
Chicago Tribune. "Few companies got high marks on food marketing to children," http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sc-biz-0310-food-report-card--20100310,0,3522738.story; 10 March 2010.
Center for Science in the Public Interest. "Report card on food marketing policies," http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/marketingreportcard.pdf; accessed 10 March 2010.
