Sunday, November 28, 2010

Health Advisers Spend Millions Promoting Fast Food

Health Advisers Spend Millions Promoting Fast Food: "A controversial government program which gives fast-food chains influence over healthy eating policies has come under severe criticism after US research revealed the extent of 'relentless marketing' of unhealthy food and drinks to children.

A report by the authoritative Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity found companies such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Burger King spent more than $4bn advertising predominantly unhealthy fast foods in 2009.

Children and young people in the US are bombarded with increasing numbers and types of advertising through TV, radio, magazines, sophisticated websites and phone applications in spite of appeals from the White House to be more responsible, according to Fast Food F.a.c.t.s. Between 2007 and 2009, McDonald's and Burger King increased the number of TV adverts for children by 20 per cent and 10 per cent respectively despite pledging to improve food marketing to children. The report, which analyzed 20 of America's most popular fast-food outlets, found less than 1 per cent of kids' meal combinations met nutritional standards."

No comments:

Post a Comment