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: ColorLines on June 14, 2013
After stepping out at the World Series parade in a shirt that said, "I just look illegal", San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo partnered with Bay Area ice cream company Three Twins to create a Mexican chocolate flavor with the tagline, "It only tastes illegal." The controversial product aims to get people talking about immigration policy in the U.S., and some of the profits from the new ice cream will raise money for immigration reform.Source: Adweek on June 10, 2013
Four senators join Berkeley Media Studies Group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and other partners in demanding that Nickelodeon "implement strong nutrition standards for all of its marketing to children." Although CSPI found that seven out of 10 food ads Nick carries are for junk foods, Nickelodeon claims its first responsibility is entertainment and will not change its advertising lineup.Source: Food Navigator on June 10, 2013
Professor Daria Ebneter from the University of Hawaii at Manoa found that a product's "low fat" label tends to influence consumer choices and perceptions of a product more than its caloric information. The study suggests that shoppers tend to underestimate the number of calories in a "low fat" option and overestimate the calorie count of a "regular" option, exemplifying the power of labeling as a marketing strategy.Source: Food Dive on June 10, 2013
Lollyphile's new breast milk flavored lollipop has "turned heads," with thousands of pops having already been sold in Texas, where the company is based. The lollipop does not contain breast milk itself, but a blend of sugar and artificial and natural flavoring designed to taste like the real thing.Source: Food Navigator USA on June 10, 2013
General Mills CEO Don Mulligan discusses the company's efforts to boost sales by "advertising to the right consumers." The article discusses some of General Mills' previous targeting efforts, like its recent marketing of Lucky Charms to adults, and offers a glimpse into what might be the future of targeted cereal marketing.Source: MediaPost on June 07, 2013
Cheerios' latest ad, which features an interracial couple and their daughter, inspired a host of racist feedback on YouTube, but scored highly on likeability, attention, and other factors. It remains to be seen whether other companies will follow Cheerios' example and prominently feature multiethnic families in their marketing.Source: QSR on June 07, 2013
The fast food restaurant is promoting the meals both for their low price tag and for their connection to Kids LiveWell, an industry program that Wendy's has joined to help position itself on the side of health. Two of the Kids' Meals meet the program's nutrition criteria. Each meal includes a toy targeted at kids and their parents.Source: Food Dive on June 07, 2013
A newly designed Coca-Cola bottle is made out of ice to keep the drink cold and then disappears in the heat when it melts. The "Botello de Hielo" is promoted in a Spanish-language commercial featuring happy beach-goers enjoying the "eco-friendly" product.Source: Food Navigator USA on June 06, 2013
Marketers are increasingly developing new products to appeal to the growing Latino population. A recent example comes from flavor and fragrance company Symrise, which recently introduced a host of new grilled fruit flavors that the company says have "a Hispanic flair."Source: Examiner on June 06, 2013
Researchers from the University of Michigan found that children in households with higher commercial TV viewing consumed junk food more than kids with less exposure to commercials. While the article emphasizes individual parents' responsibility to limit junk food, it also recommends demanding a policy solution that would hold the industry accountable: a ban on junk food advertising during kids' TV shows.
