Marketing has a profound affect on the foods we eat and the beverages we drink, yet most of that marketing is for products we should avoid. BMSG monitors the media to help keep advocates informed of the tactics food and beverage companies use to target children, communities of color, and other groups that are particularly susceptible to the health harms these products cause. Below are archives of our monitoring.
Source: Food Politics on August 23, 2012
Nestle argues that if it is conducted, the study could illustrate the big impact of food products' health claims. For example, do consumers think Froot Loops are good for you because they've been blasted with vitamin C?Source: Los Angeles Times on August 23, 2012
In a study by Cornell researchers, kids could choose between cookies and apples after lunch. When the apples had Elmo stickers on them, kids took nearly twice as many.Source: ReachHispanic on August 23, 2012
According to a recent survey, Latinos are more likely to connect online through mobile devices and are more likely to purchase from a mobile device. They are also about twice as likely to view online ads as a valuable way to research purchases.Source: QSR Magazine on August 22, 2012
The in-store game is based on the TV game show "Family Feud." With a purchase, customers are given a scratch-off card and have a chance to win prizes (collectively valued at $225 million) if they select the right answer. A BK promoter calls it a way for "consumers to experience their favorite brands."Source: NJ.com on August 22, 2012
Campbell's is trying to become "more convenient, more ethnic, more hip." The company is releasing nearly 50 new products, designed to target "millennials" between the ages of 25 and 35.Source: CREAM on August 22, 2012
This article profiles campaigns by Coke Zero and Pringles to build brand loyalty using Facebook. It shows that young people are not, however, interested in purchasing products directly through the social network.Source: The New York Times on August 22, 2012
A coalition of children's advocacy, health and public interest groups (including BMSG) filed complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, asserting that some online marketing to children by McDonald's and four other companies violates a federal law protecting children's privacy.Source: OPEN Forum on August 22, 2012
Marketers will now be able to target Facebook posts based on language, location, education, age, and other characteristics. The tool is billed as "a boon for small businesses."Source: Corporations & Health Watch on August 22, 2012
The study found that violations of the alcohol industry's advertising standards were most common in magazines with the youngest audiences. The authors conclude that industry self-regulated codes are "failing."Source: hispanicmarketinfo.com on August 20, 2012
After a recent study at Massachusetts General Hospital found that nutritional color coding increased purchasing of healthier items for all racial groups, food marketers are looking to use those findings to market to Latinos.
