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Manufacturers To Propose Voluntary Ad Restrictions
July 15, 2005
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is proposing that there should be tighter voluntary restrictions on ads aimed at children – including product placement in TV shows, and the use of licensed characters in ads and food-packaging - which it says is the preferred alternative to legally mandated national standards.
It is an approach that seems to be in synch with that preferred by the Bush administration. This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a meeting to discuss the marketing to kids issue – but did not, according to attendees and press reports, broach the possibility of government intervention.
Deborah Platt Majoras, chairwoman of the FTC, said that having the government ban the marketing of certain types of foods was "neither wise nor viable," adding, "Under the right circumstances, industry-generated action can address problems more quickly, creatively and flexibly than government regulation.”
It is not an opinion that seems to be shared by Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who has introduced legislation calling for national standards covering child-oriented advertising. While he said he is willing to look at the GMA proposal, the problem is that voluntary regulations aren’t actually regulations and “have no teeth, no enforcement mechanisms.”
About $12 billion is spent each year advertising products to children.
Interestingly, while GMA is willing to embrace voluntary advertising standards, it does not believe in creating nutritional standards for children’s products – which we believe ignores the bigger problem. It isn’t just the marketing of unhealthy products to children that is an issue, but the existence of such foods that serve only to undermine the health of our children.
It is the unwillingness of the food industry to consider nutritional standards that makes us believe that voluntary regulations will be regulations in name only...and that the time has come for the government to step in and become an advocate for the nation’s children.
Posted on Tuesday 7/19 by Kacy
I agree with Jane. Why do we as Americans always have to blame someone for what we do? As parents we have more "common sense" or I would hope that we do to differentiate what is nutritional and what is not. I am not saying that children should enjoy a "few junk food moments" but everything should be done in moderation. Long gone are the days when schools show the food groups-don't you all remmeber when we had that in class? hmmmmmmm
Posted on Monday 7/18 by Brent
Fundamentally, the food industry needs to produce more nutritious food. They can (supposedly) do it for pets, so why not people? The best way to get their attention is to boycott, or choose not to buy, their myriad of unhealthy products. Shop instead at farmers' markets, and encourage legislators to link them to cafeterias, so kids can see where their food actually comes from. As Jane said, education is the key. And healthy food just tastes better! It is getting so bad, like we are being estranged from nature and her healing powers. We need to reconnect with these life forces, which will otherwise consume us. And we need to be more rigorous as consumers -- demand that labels be printed with larger fonts, so we can see what is really in the products. Choose natural and organic products whenever possible. And if all else fails, grow some funk of your own!!
Posted on Monday 7/18 by jane
Our society would be better off if they take that $12 billion spent on advertising for children and spend it on nutritional education in schools beginning in pre-K on through high school.
Posted on Monday 7/18 by linda
very good
This discussion has been closed!
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