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: MediaPost on Feburary 19, 2013
Mondelez Intl., formerly Kraft Foods, owns the brand. The "Made Co." website solicits kids to submit their creative ideas to be "brought to life" by professionals. While Honey Made says it's trying to get kids to create content, rather than consume it, there are several links to product information.Source: The Shelby Report on Feburary 19, 2013
The company is also using doctors who are mothers to help promote the cereal to moms making purchase decisions. Compared to most children's cereals, the product is much healthier as it only has 1g of sugar per serving, while others have 8g or more.Source: ReachHispanic on Feburary 18, 2013
"On the Rise: The Growing Influence of the Hispanic Shopper" reminds marketers that Latinos have "a broad influence that extends well beyond [their] own ethnic group."Source: Advertising Age on Feburary 18, 2013
The article not only discusses the implications of the marketer shying away from its much-ballyhooed move toward healthier foods and beverages, but suggests that the return to its unhealthy staples is evidence that "advertising works."Source: Guardian UK on Feburary 18, 2013
Here is even more evidence for the USDA to promulgate more effective front-of-package labels.Source: The New York Times on Feburary 18, 2013
In response to a study linking junk food marketing to health consequences in children, this writer recommends his father's humiliating but somehow effective practice: Force children to shout insults when TV commercials air. A policy change would keep individual parents from having to do this.Source: BBC News on Feburary 17, 2013
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges makes a bold call for real policy change to correct food marketing environments. However, the BBC's use of an incredibly stigmatizing photo undermines this agenda by focusing readers' attention on individuals' bodies rather than the environment.Source: The Huffington Post on Feburary 15, 2013
Author Laurie David discusses the pervasiveness of junk food marketing to children: [W]e haven't noticed the extent to which the fast food and soda industry has permeated our children's worlds." Although David does not call for specific policy solutions, she argues that government is partly to blame because it has neglected to regulate.Source: Warc on Feburary 15, 2013
The Kraft spin-off credits such brands with leading its sales - overall and in developing markets. A company executive said they would remain "laser-focused on driving the power brands."Source: Convenience Store News on Feburary 15, 2013
According to a newly released report, Latinos are a "key growth opportunity" for marketers, but they feel misrepresented in the media and misunderstood by advertisers.
