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A study from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) finds that "nearly 80 percent of food ads on the popular children's network Nickelodeon are for foods of poor nutritional quality," CBS News reports.
That's actually an improvement from 2005, when CSPI found 90 percent of the ads were for junk food. Between 2005 and 2009 the industry began a self-regulatory program through the Better Business Bureau's Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI), but CSPI says that self-regulation isn't working.
The group found that "of the 452 foods and beverages that companies say are acceptable to market to children, that 267, (or nearly 60 percent), do not meet CSPI's recommended nutrition standards for food marketing to children," CBS reports.
On that list were popular products like General Mills' Cookie Crisp and Reese's Puffs cereals, Kellogg Apple Jacks and Cocoa Krispies cereals, Kellogg Rice Krispies Treats and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.
"While industry self-regulation is providing some useful benchmarks, it's clearly not shielding children from junk food advertising, on Nick and elsewhere," CSPI nutrition policy director Margo G. Wootan told CBS. "It's a modest start, but not sufficient to address children's poor eating habits and the sky-high rates of childhood obesity."
Foods that get the CSPI's green light include Nabisco Teddy Grahams, Kellogg Frosted Mini-Wheats, Kellogg Eggo Waffles and several Kid Cuisine frozen dinners.
About 25 percent of the companies that advertise food on Nickelodeon don't participate in the industry's self-regulatory program, CBS reports.
[Via CBS News]
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11-25-2009 @2:08PM Courtney said... Maybe the reason they aren't advertising many healthy foods is because most of them SUCK!!!!
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11-25-2009 @2:13PM charles almon said... Since parents do the grocery shopping - so what?
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11-25-2009 @2:36PM Mel said... I'm wondering where the accountability is here. Ok, so they advertise unhealthy snacks and foods. So what? It is a parents job to educate and regulate their children. Why is that so hard to do? It's been done for thousands of years, even with outside influences. Pony up and tell your kids they can have every little thing that flitters across the television screen. Mine did.
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11-25-2009 @2:38PM Mel said... *That should have said can't, not can. :-)*
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11-25-2009 @2:51PM metsb101 said... Well Nickelodeon's a kid's network. Are kids going to sit and watch the grinola bar commercial or the candy commercial?
The Answer: The Candy Commercial.
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11-25-2009 @3:15PM Michael Schmitt said... @charles: THANK YOU!!! I'm tired of people saying that kids are overweight and not putting accountability on the people taking care of the kids!!
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11-25-2009 @4:02PM Carol said... Oh please, not another story about how the little things in life are ruining childrens' lives... It's called moderation people. That, and it's a parent's job to keep their children healthy. Junk food is okay when you aren't eating it all the time. Seriously, I'm sick of finding stuff like this all the time. Just live your life the way you want to and stay healthy. It's not that hard.
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11-25-2009 @4:06PM byron said... kids dont care about what they eat. they like sweet, salty junk foods. if n ick advertised the gluten free, nut free, fat free, milk free, chocolate free foods, they wouldnt have an audience anymore. it doesnt matter what kids see in commercials, it matters what parents buy.
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11-25-2009 @4:12PM Simzee said... Are you there?
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11-25-2009 @4:14PM elky999 said... So you're saying the only reason kids watch nickelodeon is because of the commercials?
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11-25-2009 @4:15PM PacoGerte said... I don't think the United Carrot Stick Council has as big of a budget for TV ads as General Mills and MacDonalds.
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11-25-2009 @4:36PM Frank said... The worst thing about this is that all candy that is sponsered by Nickelodean is made in China . I will never allow my child to eat or purchae these candies .
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11-25-2009 @4:47PM Lindsay said... Mommy and Daddy decide what goes into the shopping cart at the grocery store, not the children.
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11-25-2009 @5:30PM Gal said... Thank you. It is so hard being a teacher and telling kids "No" about things that are not appropriate to say, and do at school and the kids act like its the first time anyone ever told them no. Discipline means love. I loved my children and they are healthy young adults now.
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11-25-2009 @5:07PM barbarascy385 said... Welcome to the party! This has been standard procedure for Nickelodeon for years. If you want to see the best of these commercials watch during Spongebob. They pull out all the stops when he is on.
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11-25-2009 @5:50PM William Bischoff said... I have children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. In my family, we have never had any problem with children "getting" all the junk foods advertised on TV. Neither have we had problems with saying no to many of the "terrible toys", that are advertised. In fact, I believe they all serve to teach children that there are "choices" which must be made by EVERYONE, on what they eat, what they wear, how they take care of their bodies, their health, and their standards for a good way of life. I have taught my own children that junk foods are something that is "okay" for occasional foods, but should be eaten very, very seldom. They were usually exposed to them at the homes of friends. They usually didn't like what was bad for them anyway, because they learned to "like" what we gave them. They even agreed that these junk cereals almost always taste "awful". Over time, they come to KNOW what makes their friends "overweight", unhealthy, with bad teeth, things they, themselves, don't have to deal with. Parents should be "teachers" to their children. My younger grandchildren go to the refrigerator and help themselves to healthy snacks we make and keep there for them, such as the little "baby" carrots, celery with peanut butter, and "flowers" of brocoli and cauliflower. It never occurred to them that they weren't supposed to "like" this stuff.
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11-25-2009 @6:25PM Joy said... You keep saying that the mothers are the DMs in the supermarket. Im a mom , and I can tell you that 50% of the new products that I have put into my kitchen in the past 10 years has been from me listening to what my kids want. They are pretty empowered kids and I have always let them eat what they choose, and guess what? Now they are well adjusted adults with no health problems and no weight issues.
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11-25-2009 @6:53PM Colin said... By reading these comments we can sure tell who loves their junk foods.
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11-25-2009 @7:43PM cheryl said... I love junk food & don't need the commercials to want it. But I don't buy a lot of it at the store so neither I nor my kids get too much of it. No matter what they see on TV.
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11-25-2009 @8:42PM Steve said... My kids tune out when shows have so many comercials.They rather watch dvds.So we save money not having to pay for cable.
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