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: Marketing Magazine on November 28, 2011
As part of the European pledge group, companies like McDonald's, PepsiCo and Nestl̩ are promising to "restrict marketing to children (under 12) on their websites to 'better for you' products."Source: The Economic Times on November 27, 2011
Looking to expand its global market and increase sales, PepsiCo plans to target low socio-economic consumers in India with its breakfast cereals, like Quaker Oats. Marketing Director states, "What we are trying to do is to ensure that our products remain affordable and accessible at all times."Source: Associated Press on November 27, 2011
A study by the American Cancer Society recommends policy actions, including taxes on sugary drinks, to address childhood obesity and food deserts in New York. It finds that food deserts are in 32 of New York's 62 counties.Source: Natural Resource Report on November 25, 2011
Consumers continue to file lawsuits over misleading labeling and marketing claims, like claims that products are "all natural" when in fact they have synthetic ingredients. California litigators Tom Woods and Melissa Jones advise companies to "examine their labels to minimize risk of litigation."Source: MediaPost on November 23, 2011
As part of its Save Polar Bears campaign, Coca-Cola plans to use QR codes on "tens of billions Coca-Cola cups." These codes lead consumers to a "landing page on Facebook that allows users to throw snowballs at friends."Source: QSR Magazine on November 21, 2011
Starbucks' rapid expansion into Latin America continues with a new store opening in Santiago. The company uses "Latin America's distinctive cultural heritage" to make the company more appealing to local customers. Starbucks plans to continue to dominate Latin America: In Brazil, for example, the company plans to open "several hundred stores" in the years to come.Source: PR Newswire on November 21, 2011
The National Milk Mustache Campaign is partnering with USA Today for the 15th annual Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year Award Program (SAMMY). The scholarship offers high-achieving high school athletes an opportunity to offset some of the costs of attending college. As the press release indicates, the program is being heavily marketed to Latino students and families. Though milk is a healthful product, this campaign is problematic because the company is also using the scholarship as a means to promote chocolate milk, which contains a great deal of added sugar.Source: Progressive Grocer on November 18, 2011
General Mills raises $20,000 for the GENYOUTH Foundation, a nonprofit implementing healthy eating and physical activity for youth in schools and communities in New England.Source: Los Angeles Times on November 18, 2011
Pepsi NEXT is a low-calorie beverage that will have 60% less sugar than a standard Pepsi beverage.Source: Huffington Post on November 18, 2011
Executive Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Michael F. Jacobson, outlines a couple of reasons why the food industry is aggressively lobbying against voluntary marketing guidelines. These include that the "industry is desperate to avoid any government scrutiny" and that the guidelines would serve as a benchmark to help evaluate industry progress. The food industry's "single biggest priority is preserving its ability to market junk food to young kids."
