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: The Knife & Fork Show on October 25, 2012
CSPI's Margo Wootan appears on The Knife and Fork Show to discuss the food industry's opposition to the Interagency Working Group's efforts to establish voluntary marketing guidelines.Source: QSR Magazine on October 24, 2012
The company announced the return of the Boston Scream Donut, a variation on its Boston Kreme donut. It also launched a Twitter and Instagram contest asking customers to decorate their Dunkin' Donuts cup in a creative Halloween costume.Source: Food Politics on October 24, 2012
Marion Nestle argues that these labels aren't especially helpful, since they all establish their own, differing criteria. She also includes a graphic depicting a possible food labeling system suggested by New York Times writer Mark Bittman.Source: MediaPost on October 23, 2012
Taco Bell announced that it will give away free Doritos Locos Tacos to all comers if any player stole a base during the World Series. The campaign will include social media, and online, television and radio advertising.Source: The Washington Post on October 22, 2012
After advocates, including BMSG, sent a letter of complaint to the FTC, McDonald's removed some social networking features from online games targeted to children.Source: Advertising Age on October 22, 2012
The campaign includes online banner ads, unbranded billboards and blogger outreach. The Hobbit has a wide following, including families and Millennials -- two of Denny's main targets.Source: MediaPost on October 22, 2012
The smoothies Jamba Juice is marketing to teens contain large amounts of added sugar (though the specialty beverage at the heart of the promotion is being billed as "better for you").Source: Advertising Age on October 22, 2012
McDonald's China has partnered with Rovio to offer customers a special, location-based Angry Birds game to play in restaurants. The campaign also features in-store promotions, online advertising, and social and outdoor media.Source: Philly.com on October 20, 2012
Per-capita consumption of full-calorie sodas fell more than 20% between 2000 and 2011, and Diet Coke is now No. 2, ahead of regular Pepsi. The article draws comparisons between tobacco control and the emerging public health efforts to reduce soda consumption through education and increasingly through public policy.Source: Warc on October 19, 2012
The company is focusing on marketing 12 "core" brands. Part of its marketing strategy, says Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi, has been "360-degree activation, not just spending money on television advertising, but in the digital world."
