Tuesday December 1, 2009

Spotlighting Marketing To Children

Washington, DC — Marketing to children, its ramifications, and the effectiveness of companies’ voluntary regulation will be discussed during the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) December 15 public forum.

Speakers will examine new research on the impact of various food advertising techniques on children and the statutory and constitutional issues surrounding governmental regulation of food marketing.

Also to be addressed are the food and entertainment industries’ self-regulatory efforts and the status of recommended nutritional standards for foods marketed to children, followed by a town hall discussion.

Betsy Lordan, public affairs specialist for the FTC, says the event follows a congressional request to examine nutritional recommendations for children, and the agency’s four year effort to review marketing to children.

Susan Smith, senior vice-president of communications for the NCA, says the Association will monitor the forum for anything that will affect candy companies to determine what, if any, steps should be taken on behalf of the candy industry.

She said that in addition to a voluntary policy on marketing to children, which has been adopted by the Association and its members, major candy companies have already made further voluntary commitments through the Better Business Bureau’s Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative, pledging to advertise responsibly to children. Still, some groups are advocating for legislationor more regulations regarding the issue.