June 23, 2010
The topic of obese children in American society and the deleterious effects of such obesity is a hot topic these days. There is a definite causal connection between eating excessive junk food and obesity. This brings into question whether marketing junk food to children is responsible.
“Fifty percent of children say that food from a package decorated with a cartoon celebrity such as Shrek tastes better than the same exact food from a plain package, according to a new study.” “Between 73 percent and 85 percent selected the food in the character packaging as the one they’d prefer to eat as a snack.” (CNN)
The American Psychological Association, among other organizations, has called for the elimination of all marketing of food products to children. Though such regulations have not yet been instituted, running a basic search on WestlawNext results in some very interesting reports.
WestlawNext Search: cartoon characters market junk food
Jurisdiction: All State and Federal
Browse the Overview Screen – under Administrative Decisions and Guidance, see Report entitled: MARKETING FOOD TO CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, 2008 WL 2974317. To view a number of additional relevant reports and decisions on topic, click the Administrative Decisions and Guidance link on the left panel of WestlawNext.