Disney to Restrict Advertising of Junk Food
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 8:37 am
The New York Times reports that:
The Walt Disney Company, in an effort to address concerns about entertainment’s role in childhood obesity, plans to announce on Tuesday that all products advertised on its child-focused television channels, radio stations and Web sites must comply with a strict new set of nutritional standards.
A Mickey Check identifies products that meet Disney’s nutrition standards.
Cereal will have to contain less than 10 grams of sugar a serving to be advertised on a show like “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.”
The restrictions on ads extend to Saturday-morning cartoons on ABC stations owned by Disney. Under the new rules, products like Capri Sun drinks and Kraft Lunchables meals — both current Disney advertisers — along with a wide range of candy, sugared cereal and fast food, will no longer be acceptable advertising material.
This is encouraging news, mostly because it will encourage companies that want to advertise to kids to make products that meet healthier nutritional standards.