Report to Congress Suggests Curbs On Food Ads To Kids

A new study commissioned by Congress from the NATIONAL ACADEMIES' INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE recommends that restrictions be placed on food marketing towards children. 

While the report, "Food Marketing to Children and Youth: Threat or Opportunity?," focuses on TV advertising, it recommends use of multiple platforms, including broadcast, cable, the Internet, and wireless- to incorporate "storylines that promote healthful diets" into programing, suggests that licensed characters be used only to promote healthy food and drink, and stresses self-regulation as the first step towards dealing with the influence of TV advertising on children's diets (although it also recommends a government agency under the Department of Health and Human Services be set up to monitor compliance).

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