Not just corndog though. Any product or type of food that is advertised to us as “good-for-you” stuff. Here’s an article in the New York Times that gives you a pretty clear idea about who’s boss and who decides how things are going to be.
When Congress ordered federal agencies to come up with rigid recommendations for children’s food adverting, it seemed like things would finally take a turn for the better and our kids would not be exposed to commercials advertising so-called “healthy” foods that would make a health expert cringe.
The agencies, which included the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, the Agriculture Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were not only to come up with guidelines and definitions for foods that were acceptable to be advertised to children. They were also to follow up with food manufacturers whose standards of what’s acceptable and what’s not have long been a matter of heated arguments.
Well, apparently, the big guys in the industry are now saying: “Not so fast!” and are doing their best to stall federal government’s efforts to change the situation. Their excuse is that they’re already airing ads that promote a healthier lifestyle.
Take McDonalds and Burger King:
McDonald’s and Burger King justify ads for their Happy Meals and Kids Meals by pledging to show lower-calorie versions of the meals in the ads. Those include apple slices instead of French fries and low-fat milk or fruit juice instead of soda.
I can’t blame them: you don’t just become a giant corporation for no reason. Selling unhealthy stuff labeled as “healthy” or making your commercials so that a kid’s attention wouldn’t be driven to the point you claim you’re trying to make – well, that has become one of world’s most lucrative businesses.
A report to Congress from several federal agencies — expected to include strict nutritional definitions for the sorts of foods that could be advertised to children — is overdue, and officials say it could be months before it is ready. Some advocates fear the delay could result in the measure being stripped of its toughest provisions.
“All of a sudden everything is dead in the water,” said Dale Kunkel, a communications professor at the University of Arizona who is an expert on children’s advertising. “I have heard no arguments to slow this down other than that the industry doesn’t like it.”
Let’s see how the Obama administration is going to digest this, considering that there has been a lot of hope on their initiative against childhood obesity.