Health

A Crack-Down on Food Ads Aimed at Kids

By Marion Nestle
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Photo by theimpulsivebuy/Flickr CC


Thanks to Margo Wootan of CSPI for sending me the text of a speech by David Vladeck, the new director of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Bureau of Consumer Protection, in which he discusses his agency's priorities. One of these is marketing to children.

And about time too. The last time the FTC wanted to restrict advertising to kids was in 1978. Then, Congress ridiculed the agency (What? Restrict free speech? Horrors!), and promptly passed a law preventing the FTC from taking action.  The head of the FTC, Mike Pertschuk, was fired and that was that (see Giant Killers, for his version of what happened).

Well, times have changed. Kids are a lot fatter. Trying to stop relentless food marketing aimed at children now seems like a pretty good idea. Can't wait!

Marion Nestle is a professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University. She is the author of Food Politics, Safe Food, What to Eat, and Pet Food Politics.