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: MediaPost on June 12, 2012
Disney will mitigate revenue loss through increasing its health-food marketing, including the possible introduction of the "Mickey Check," a label for Disney-licensed products that meet certain limits on calories, saturated fat, sodium and sugar.Source: PR Newswire on June 12, 2012
As part of "Father's Day Frosty Weekend," Wendy's is raising money for foster care by urging customers to buy a Frosty, check-in at a Wendy's eatery using a mobile device, or re-tweet a Wendy's message.Source: PR Newswire on June 12, 2012
The spreadable cheese brand Alouette is partnering with the co-authors of the book Portion Size Me to "spread" this message: Limit serving sizes as a way of controlling weight.Source: PR Newswire on June 12, 2012
Supporters of the proposed initiative say it would be the first of its kind in the U.S. to require the labeling of a wide range of GMO's. More than 40 other countries already have a similar law. The coalition opposed to the initiative primarily consists of associations representing agribusinesses and food/beverage companies.Source: The New York Times on June 12, 2012
The snack-maker plans to build on the fact that "the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer" with premium and value brands that focus on the edges of the market. The former emphasizes things like whole grains and dried fruit while the latter features, for example, the inexpensive Taqueros tortilla chips.Source: PR Newswire on June 12, 2012
The purveyor of burgers and fries frames prevention as a matter of education and nutritional counseling, while also offering some primary care services.Source: PR Newswire on June 11, 2012
The Peeps brand is increasing its exposure among young people by commercializing a Virginia middle school's anti-bullying efforts via a campaign called "Standing Up For Our Peeps." The campaign includes a branded essay writing contest, videos and apparel.Source: Food Politics on June 11, 2012
The recently proposed New York City ban on large-size sugary drinks has generated more criticism about the negative impact of soda on health. Blogger Marion Nestle presents an overview of the soda industry's effort to "spin the science" and forestall the ban by creating an organization and website called "Let's Clear it Up."Source: The Washington Post on June 08, 2012
Former Coca-Cola executive Todd Putnam recently gave insight into the company's predatory marketing practices at a National Soda Summit in Washington D.C. Among other topics, he discussed the company's efforts to target African American and Latino populations, observing that the company knew "if [they] got more products into those environments those segments would drink more." Now a marketer who focuses on selling healthy products, he concludes "the game is rigged by the power of the soft drink industry and how much money they put against all the competition in [communities of color]."Source: Reuters on June 08, 2012
A recent survey shows that nearly 70% of Americans oppose the large-size soda ban in New York City. However, a majority of respondents also admit that such a ban would be effective in changing their drinking habits for the better.
