Companies spend $1.8 billion a year on food marketing to children.1 Their marketing practices shape kids’ food preferences and requests,2 often undermining parents’ efforts to teach good eating habits and encouraging poor nutrition, which can lead to heart disease, diabetes and other diseases later in life.3

On television, preschoolers see an average of 10 food and beverage ads a day, and children ages 6-11 see a dozen such ads.4 A study of the nutritional content of foods and beverage ads viewed by children found that 84% of ads promoted foods that were high in saturated fat, trans fat, sugars, or sodium.5 Ads for unhealthy foods are particularly prevalent on TV channels targeted at African Americans and Latinos.6,7

In addition, food companies advertise in magazines and on the Internet, induce purchases through toy premiums and prizes, and market their products to children in … Read More »