Public schools face the rising cost of serving lunch
Source: The New York Times on September 19, 2011
In the midst of budget cuts, the more nutritious school lunches are also more expensive.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.
World leaders must take binding steps to curb unhealthy food industry
Source: UN News Centre on September 19, 2011
During the opening of the UN General Assembly summit on Non-Communicable Diseases, UN Secretary General Ban urged food and beverage companies, the media, marketing and advertising companies to promote healthy living instead of promoting processed foods to children.Coke tailors its soda sizes
Source: The Wall Street Journal on September 19, 2011
Coca-Cola Co. has created more package sizes that are smaller and cheaper. This week it will launch the 12.5oz at 89 cents and reduce the price of its 8-pack of 7.5 oz Coke "mini" cans by 20 percent.United Nations to consider the effects of food marketing on chronic disease
Source: Food Politics on September 19, 2011
The UN General Assembly will meet in New York on September 19 and 20 to generate a global response to the rise in obesity. Discussions will include food marketing regulations. Nestle remarks, "Let's hope the General Assembly puts health above politics this time."Nickelodeon’s capital play day
Source: The New York Times on September 18, 2011
Nickelodeon's annual event, Worldwide Day of Play, will be in Washington, D.C. On the day of the event, Nickelodeon and its website will be turned off for 3 hours to encourage children to do physical activities.Burger King sidelines creepy king, readies ‘sensational’ menu
Source: Detroit Free Press on September 17, 2011
Burger King retires the company's spokescharacter, the King, claiming that the departure is due to the company's broadening consumer base. The company also says that it will develop "a new children's program."Proponents of new food marketing guidelines win Senate victory
Source: Adweek on September 16, 2011
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted on Thursday night to support the guidelines, as part of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2012.Birds Eye aims to shake up frozen veggie status quo
Source: Media Post on September 16, 2011
Pinnacle Foods Group brand and maker of frozen vegetables, Birds Eye, takes advantage of the First Lady's "LetÛªs Move" initiative and the USDA's new MyPlate, which encourage more vegetable consumption. Birds Eye launches the marketing initiative "Discover the Wonder of Vegetables" that includes a new campaign called "At Birds Eye, It's Always Vegetable Season."Hola: P&G targets Latino shoppers
Source: The Wall Street Journal on September 15, 2011
P&G is just one of many companies that is looking to the Latino market as a means of boosting slumping sales. Their targeting campaign may provide a model that other companies will follow.Knowing our consumers through their own stories: Hispanics and content creation
Source: Media Post on September 15, 2011
A recent report indicates that Latinos are "Creators" of social media -- that is, they are more likely than non-Latinos to write and publish blogs, videos, etc. Industry writer Maria-Gracias Inglessis urges marketers to take advantage of this finding to "build a stronger online dialogue with the Hispanic consumer."