80 Percent of Nickelodeon Food Commercials Advertise Junk, Study Finds

by Jennifer Lawinski, Posted Nov 25th 2009 @ 1:00PM

While its programming may be kid-friendly, a new report shows that a majority of the food advertisements on Nickelodeon are for unhealthy foods.

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]

Filed Under: Business, Television/Film, Food News
Tags: Center for Science in the Public Interest, CenterForScienceInThePublicInterest, commercials, junk food, JunkFood, nickelodeon