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: Media Post on June 21, 2011
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese offers kids "Macsurance" to help them protect themselves against parents who sneak bites of their macaroni and cheese. The Macsurance promotion, which includes TV commercials and a social media campaign, is part of Kraft's "You Know You Love It" campaign.Source: PR Newswire on June 20, 2011
Tecate wants Latinos to select an "elite group of Chicas Tecate" (Tecate Girls) to represent the brand and is providing incentives like a chance to win a trip for two to a major boxing event and behind-the-scenes access. Fans can vote for thee "Chicas Tecate" by "liking" them on the Tecate Boxing Facebook page.Source: Fast Casual on June 20, 2011
BET (Black Entertainment Television) awards is partnering with food and beverage companies like Domino's, Coca-Cola and Starbucks to sponsor the BET Awards pre-show countdown on June 27.Source: Food Politics on June 20, 2011
Marion Nestle presents more examples of cause marketing, including a promotion that rewards blood donors with a Burger King value meal. She concludes, "cause marketing ... is much more about the marketing than it is about the cause."Source: Media Post on June 19, 2011
Subway's efforts to market itself as a health-oriented chain have been successful, according to experts. The chain is now the leading source of lunch and dinner fast food orders purchased for "health" reasons.Source: PR Newswire on June 16, 2011
As part of "La Promesa de PepsiCo" campaign, PepsiCo announced that it will give a $50,000 contribution to the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) that will go towards scholarships and internships for students going into communications, journalism, or social media.Source: Target Market News on June 16, 2011
A new Nielsen report finds that African-Americans spent the most time than any other ethnic group watching video on traditional TVs (212 hours) and mobile phones (6 hours) per month.Source: BNET on June 16, 2011
Yoplait recently pulled a yogurt ad that was accused of encouraging anorexia. Columnist Jim Edwards calls the ad part of "advertising's history of pro-anorexic grotesques." He commends Yoplait for refusing to go along with the marketing industry's "body fascism."Source: Food Politics on June 16, 2011
Marion Nestle takes the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to task for partnering with KFC and Pepsi to raise money for Type 1 Diabetes research. Specifically, a new promotion at KFC encourages patrons to purchase a "mega jug" of soda to make a $1 donation to the JDRF.Source: Media Post on June 16, 2011
Burger King's "Whopper Lust" campaign challenges users to watch a video of the sandwich for extended periods to qualify for free burgers.
