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: My Health News Daily on Feburary 15, 2013
Somehow, this is scientific research, not an Onion headline. Here's another headline: Adding sugar to everything makes children addicted, unable to eat without sweeteners.Source: FoodNavigator-usa.com on Feburary 14, 2013
The launch is a reflection of the bigger trend for beverage makers to create low-calorie products to deflect criticism from their large portfolios of sugar-laden drinks. The CEO emphasized that the multi-million dollar campaign would spread across a variety of channels.Source: MediaPost on Feburary 14, 2013
The beverage giant continues to find loopholes in its self-regulatory promises. It will air a consumer-generated ad on Idol, a 'family programming' show that nevertheless reaches millions of children.Source: Advertising Age on Feburary 13, 2013
Using this new tracking technique, smartphones relay real-time data down to the level of what items you look at, where you linger, etc. The technology gathers consumers' mobile-device IDs as they enter a business using a wifi network or small sensors, and then tracks people as they move around the restaurant or store. The system operates with little or no notification to customers.Source: Hispanic PR Blog on Feburary 13, 2013
A Dunkin' exec said the company is "committed to being the brand of Latinos." In addition to its media advertising, Dunkin' recently initiated a partnership with Universal Music Latin Entertainment to advertise its coffee in tandem with high-profile Latin music and cultural events.Source: Forbes.com on Feburary 12, 2013
Developing markets are key to the multinational's success.Source: The Independent UK on Feburary 12, 2013
Industry actions include: distorting research findings, paying large sums to build relationships with health bodies, and lobbying governments to block health regulations. The report calls for stronger government action, going beyond the "nudge theory" of education and industry self-regulation.Source: NPR on Feburary 11, 2013
According to NPR, "The only worse liquid to wake up to is discovering you wet the bed." Granted, journalists are not the target market, so look out for how young men respond to this product.Source: Advertising Age on Feburary 11, 2013
The rollout will include traditional and new media, as well as a "robust" sampling tour. The target market is Millennial men, and the product is a blend of soda, fruit juice, and caffeine.Source: The New York Times on Feburary 11, 2013
Many industries, from food to alcohol to tobacco, have long targeted children with their products. In today's digital age, kids are targeted from more directions than ever, often without parents' awareness. Topping the list of products marketed to children are "fast foods, sugared cereals, sugary drinks and candy."
