A city tries to slim down
Source: New York Times on June 13, 2011
Louisville, Kentucky is battling both skyrocketing obesity rates, and the efforts of fast food companies who are targeting the city.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.
School buses no place for junk food ads
Source: TimesUnion.com on June 10, 2011
The director of the NY State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance takes on a proposal that would allow New York school buses to carry advertising. She urges legislators to take a stand against these "predatory" marketing practices.Dole blitzes key cities to pump up banana sales
Source: Media Post on June 10, 2011
Dole has launched a campaign in US cities to publicize new ways to enjoy bananas during the summer. The campaign, which includes a significant social media component, promotes bananas as a dessert, as a beverage, and as a dinner item.Dr Pepper sponsors premios juventud VIP tour
Source: Media Post on June 09, 2011
Dr. Pepper will sponsor a series of concerts leading up to UnivisionÛªs Latino youth awards show, Premios Juventud, that celebrates pop culture. Marketing firm Eventus is working with Univision and Dr. Pepper to "connect brands with multicultural audiences."Brisk’s Green Tea features ‘Green Lantern’ design
Source: Media Post on June 09, 2011
To support the upcoming "Green Lantern" movie, Pepsi's Brisk Iced Tea will feature themed bottles.TGI Friday’s ‘Buy your friend a beer’
Source: Media Post on June 09, 2011
A new app allows Facebook users to buy their friends and family members beer by "liking" TGI Friday's page.Sneaky snacks aimed at youth glamorize a vicious drug culture
Source: Go San Angelo on June 08, 2011
Angelina Osornio warns parents about snack foods that explicitly or implicitly promote drug use, such as Purple Stuff (a soft drink whose name and logo are associated with recreational cough syrup use), and Lazy Cakes (a snack cake that is marketed as a "relaxation brownie" and contains melatonin).‘Buscando Coca-Cola’ invites Latino soccer fans to unite & ‘open happiness’
Source: Hispanic PR Blog on June 07, 2011
Piggybacking on the soccer excitement among Latinos, Coca Cola launches a series of marketing advertisements and campaigns to reach Latino soccer fans. These include a new ad titled "Buscando Coca-Cola" that claims to embody the unifying element in Coca-Cola. Other marketing events include the "Coca-Cola Happiness Dome," "Coke Zero Impressive Moments," "Powerade Challenge" and a "Coca-Cola Gigapixel Fan Cam" that can take a 360-degree snapshot of the stadium during selected games and encourages fans to tag themselves in the photos.Taco Bell shows (positive) perception uptrends
Source: Media Post on June 07, 2011
Taco Bell's aggressive response to the lawsuit involving its beef filling has significantly improved customer perceptions of the chain.Energy drinks are not for kids
Source: Marin Independent Journal on June 06, 2011
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that children avoid energy and sports drinks, which are heavily marketed to this age group. These drinks may add significant calories to their diets and cause problems related to caffeine consumption.