WATCH: Oh, Kmart!
Pamela Poole: Talk About a Choking Hazard! What I Never Expected to…
Kellogg to raise nutrition standards in kids' foods
Filed under: Toddlers Preschoolers, Preschoolers, Big Kids, Teens, Health & Safety: Babies, Nutrition: Health, Media
A lot of attention is being paid lately to products being marketed to kids, especially food. Advocacy groups like the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the Campaign for Commercial Free Childhood want to see food manufacturers stop marketing junk food to kids and have threatened lawsuits.
To head off the lawsuits and to meet their own new nutritional standards, Kellogg has announced that it will modify some of its best-selling children's foods to increase the nutritional value. This includes such favorites as Pop Tarts, Froot Loops and Apple Jacks.
But will messing with these favorites ruin them? "It means we have a lot of work to do," said Kellogg Chief Executive David Mackay. "If we can't make those products taste just as good as they do today and make them as appealing, then we won't reformulate them and we won't advertise them."
Kellogg claims they already avoid marketing products to children under the age of six and will now discontinue marketing to older children or reformulate any product that doesn't meet the new standards. The company has also vowed to discontinue using branded toys to market foods that don't meet the nutrition standards. Also, they won't advertise in schools that include children under the age of 12, won't participate in product placement in television shows or movies for young children and won't used licensed characters in advertising directed at children. What's more, the cereal boxes will have key nutrition labels placed on the front of the packages.
Several large beverage and food makers have recently volunteered to impose more controls on marketing to children as well and hopefully these steps will begin to show an impact in childhood obesity rates.
To head off the lawsuits and to meet their own new nutritional standards, Kellogg has announced that it will modify some of its best-selling children's foods to increase the nutritional value. This includes such favorites as Pop Tarts, Froot Loops and Apple Jacks.
But will messing with these favorites ruin them? "It means we have a lot of work to do," said Kellogg Chief Executive David Mackay. "If we can't make those products taste just as good as they do today and make them as appealing, then we won't reformulate them and we won't advertise them."
Kellogg claims they already avoid marketing products to children under the age of six and will now discontinue marketing to older children or reformulate any product that doesn't meet the new standards. The company has also vowed to discontinue using branded toys to market foods that don't meet the nutrition standards. Also, they won't advertise in schools that include children under the age of 12, won't participate in product placement in television shows or movies for young children and won't used licensed characters in advertising directed at children. What's more, the cereal boxes will have key nutrition labels placed on the front of the packages.
Several large beverage and food makers have recently volunteered to impose more controls on marketing to children as well and hopefully these steps will begin to show an impact in childhood obesity rates.
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
Recently Asked
RelatedVideos
-
Surrogate Mom Loves Being Pregnant
There are many misconceptions about the dollars & cents involved in third-party reproduction. Treating infertility can be both expensive and emotionally difficult for couples in need. Surrogates and egg donors weigh in on joys and the obstacles. Guest Sara Chinn shares her story.
-
Why Parents Should Change Their Approach To Feeding Their Children
Some studies indicate that typical American parenting methods are, well, backwards when compared to techniques more common in other parts of the world. So, what does the research suggest about the outcomes of our parenting methods? Guest Christine Gross-Loh joins to discuss.
-
Choosing the Best Summer Camp for Your Child
Summer camp memories can last a lifetime. So how do you choose the right camp for your kids?
-
Dr. Phil's Advice to a Workaholic Dad
Does your spouse constantly check work e-mails and texts, when he or she should be spending time with the family? Dr. Phil offers advice to one mom who says her husband is married to his work.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
6-14-2007 @ 6:36PM
M4Mommy said...how in the world did any of "us" make it to the age that we are now parents? What with all the ""Bad"" stuff in Kellogs cereals??
Maybe there is nothing wrong with the cereals. Maybe a company shouldnt have to change their product to protect the thousands.. or is it millions of children now that are overweight. Maybe parents should step up and actually BE PARENTS.
Also. I am sorry but I really dont get the whole "marketing to kids under the age of 6 or 12" problem. Who is doing the food shopping? Mom and dad or the kids? What ever happened to the word "No"?
Child under age 12 "Mom can I have Sugar Zs?"
Mom of child "No. You can have Os"
Child whining about wanting cereal with toy in box
"I want THAT!! I WANT THAT!!!"
Mom "You can ""want that" all day long. No. You arent getting that. You can have this instead"
Reaqlly it isnt hard.
Just because some parents cant help but tell little K or S "Yes" to everything they want doesnt mean all of us have that problem. Or is it buying love through food? Fat and unhealthy kids are happy huh?
Guess there is just more of em to love and hug on
Reply
6-14-2007 @ 11:13PM
Rachel Mosteller said...Plain and simple: Don't keep that crap in your house. Don't want the kids to eat sugary cereals? Don't bring them in the house.
Hint to Kelloggs and the rest of the food industry: It is completely possible to have food that is good for you and taste good, too.
Maybe step away from the sugar and look at other ways to make food good.
Reply
6-15-2007 @ 4:47PM
smkono1 said...The last time I took my son to his pediatrician I was asking him how he felt about all the lawsuits over products that are "causing" childhood obesity.
He was telling me that he had this mother who came in with her child who was grossly overweight and explained to him that "he just won't eat anything other than McDonalds...he screams and throws a fit if he doesn't have it."
The doctors response?
"I guess I wasn't aware that McDonald's delivered."
Point made! It is the parents responsibility to be the adult and take control of the situation. I could care less if my child lays down in the aisle screaming over wanting something. The people who stare at me as I carry a screaming toddler over my shoulder have all been in my shoes.
I'd much rather deal with the stares then to be standing in the line (furious) as my child clutches the item they just "couldn't live without" (that day) mumbling to myself that I'm an idiot for allowing this to happen.
Reply