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: FoodNavigator.com on December 11, 2013
The Scottish government announced earlier this year that it planned to develop food marketing guidelines, with the participation of the food industry, in order to cut consumption of food high in fat, salt and sugar. However, food industry participants withdrew from discussions, effectively shelving the project. The food industry argued that it was already doing enough to "encourage balanced diets," including reformulating and labeling products and educating consumers.Source: PR Newswire on December 09, 2013
The beer company continues to reach out to Latinos through soccer, this by commissioning an artist to create a piece of art in real time during the "Final Draw" for the 2014 World Cup. At the center of the piece is a prominent rendering of the Budweiser logo. The piece was created in Washington, D.C. at the home of the Brazilian ambassador.Source: McDonald's on December 09, 2013
The competition features 12 DJs from across the United States who compete for $10,000. Each region of the country is represented by one of McDonald's Quarter Pounder burgers. McDonald's uses the competition to market to young people and encourages them to vote online for their favorite DJ.Source: EcoLiving on December 09, 2013
Food & Water Watch released a report and a series of infographics highlighting the extent to which food purchases are all controlled by a few monolithic players. The report argues that food companies don't want people to know about the monopolies behind many food products, since that would undermine their marketing strategies: "They want you to think you have a choice, so they can offer false deals and other psychological tricks to make you spend more money."Source: Advertising Age on December 06, 2013
Pop Secret created Pop Dongle, a mobile phone attachment that smells like popcorn and is now being tested in the market. The attachment is supposed to be used by consumers while they play the branded mobile game Poptopia: When players pop virtual kernels in the game, the Pop Dongle releases a popcorn scent.Source: PR Newswire on December 05, 2013
As part of the program, 12 Latino community leaders were nominated by non-profit organizations. MillerCoors then used those nominations to drive a national advertising campaign targeting Latinos and an online public voting competition to determine who would be awarded $25,000 for a community project. This is a good example of how companies use corporate social responsibility programs to build goodwill and bolster their image when, in reality, their benefit to communities is negligible ÛÓ $25,000 is likely a drop in the bucket compared to the overall cost of this marketing campaign.Source: ChangeLab Solutions on December 04, 2013
Nonprofits ChangeLab Solutions and the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity have succeeded in pressuring the company to remove its misleading ads for the sugary products Pediasure Sidekicks and Sidekicks Clear. The move serves as a warning for other companies who misleadingly market junk food as healthy.Source: Advertising Age on December 04, 2013
The spot is being designed by the same company that made this year's ad featuring a mixed race family, which was a success with most consumers in spite of the racist comments it generated online. Cheerios has yet to reveal what the storyline of the Super Bowl ad will be, though the company released a statement saying it is "proud of its message."Source: Food Politics on December 04, 2013
Marion Nestle exposes how personal responsibility only goes so far when food choices are limited to foods that are highly processed, high in salt and sugar, and served in large portions. She proposes a solution by requiring restaurants to serve smaller portions and reduce the sodium in their foods.Source: MediaPost on December 04, 2013
Coca-Cola's latest high profile contest promotion is raising environmental concerns. The company is sending 19 Latin American winners of a promotional contest to Antarctica as a part of a 10-day music event featuring Metallica. The expedition is being accused of potentially disrupting the biodiversity of the Antarctic, although Coca-Cola has released defensive statements to the contrary.
