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: Western Farm Press on April 24, 2013
Food science is behind the enormous increase in products (from 5k to 25k) on store shelves since 1990. As public health advocate Marion Nestle has said, these are mainly processed junk foods that now crowd the center aisles. Her advice: Shop for whole foods on the perimeter.Source: Advertising Age on April 23, 2013
The sandwich is the latest example of the chain's attempts to promote its healthier items and deflect criticism for targeting children with its advertising.Source: Forbes.com on April 23, 2013
Pizza Hut is targeting young gamers with a new app on Xbox Live, which will enable gamers to create and order a pizza without stopping their game.Source: Advertising Age on April 23, 2013
In an example of its heavy focus on teens and digital marketing, Coke is seeking to leverage what it calls its "ahhh" effect. The campaign uses 61 URLs, each represented by an "h" in "ahhh" and each one targeting a different teen demographic.Source: PR Newswire on April 23, 2013
Nine schools in Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago received $2,000 each. Participating Box Tops products include unhealthy foods like Cocoa Puffs and Totino's Pizza Rolls.Source: PR Newswire on April 22, 2013
Lay's high-profile "Do Us A Flavor" contest is entering its final phase. The brand is urging customers to use digital engagement and social media to vote for the winning fan-created chip flavor.Source: BakeryandSnacks.com on April 22, 2013
The industry is engaged in intense efforts to prevent GMO, vending, and other potential policies that would inform consumers.Source: Reuters on April 22, 2013
A Brazilian lawyer successfully argued that McDonald's exploited children's inability to decipher advertising when they used an Avatar movie tie-in: "There's no need to appeal as they do to children without the maturity or the rationality to enter the market as consumers."Source: MediaPost on April 22, 2013
William Levy is famous among Spanish-speaking audiences through his work in soap operas and reality television. The videos are in Spanish and English and will be viewable on the brand's YouTube channel.Source: Food Marketing Institute on April 18, 2013
Grocery retailers met with their representatives to push for support on the "Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act." Retailers are supporting the act, which would enable grocery stores to avoid the FDA's menu labeling rules.
