More.. IILEGAL… Advertising ?

Seems there’s a massive human cry coming from Canada about our fat kids. So much so that they want to ban that’s right ban all advertising of unhealthy food and beverages. That’s right folks no more cool Capt. Crunch, Tony the Tiger or Lucky Charms. Here’s a bit of an article that was published in The Broadcaster…

The rising incidence of childhood obesity is cause for serious concern, but banning advertising to children is not the quick-fix solution to a multifactorial and complex problem. That was the key message delivered by the Association of Canadian Advertisers at a conference in Ottawa earlier this week examining childhood obesity rates.

In fact, the amount of food and beverage advertising directed to children has been decreasing in recent years even as obesity rates have climbed, Bob Reaume, the ACA’s Vice President of Policy and Research told the conference, held in response to a report on childhood obesity released last year by the federal government’s Standing Committee on Health.

Reaume’s comments stood in sharp contrast to those of a panel, comprised of academic and community representatives, who claimed a causal link between advertising and obesity. The panel is calling on governments to impose a marketing ban on “unhealthy” food and beverages to children.

Reaume noted that industry is taking a proactive approach to the obesity problem by pledging only to advertise healthier choice products and healthy active living messages. Marketers are eager to collaborate with policy makers and health groups to find effective solutions.

The full text of ACA’s remarks to the conference is posted on the association’s website (www.ACAweb.ca/Advocacy/initiatives.asp).

I love the part where the panel want governments to ban the advertising. Which really says to me “We don’t want to be the body that forces Advertisers to lose billions. We want the Government to be the bad guy”.
If this recent banning comes into effect can’t you see a guy in a long trench coat standing by his open trunk in the parking lot of the supermarket, and saying …”Psst hey lady …you want to buy some cocoa puffs, how bout some crunch or a this fat laden rib-eye.
What do you think. Should this type of advertising be banned or should we get off our collective asses and start a bit of nutrition education in the schools. Oh and we also have to teach parents how to put up with a whining crying child and NOT give in.
Thanks for the read
Bryan Cox

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