IT'S HEALTHY, BUT MUST KIDS EAT IT?

In response to Disney Says It Will Link Marketing to Nutrition (published October 17, 2006, New York Times)

To the Editor:

While I applaud Disney for taking a preliminary step to create healthier food environments for children, it’s not necessarily a step motivated by a noble desire to decrease the rate of diet-related chronic disease in children.

When food and beverage companies target children, their goal is to build brand loyalty and create future consumers. Whether Buzz Lightyear is on carrots or candy, he’s still inappropriately influencing children’s food choices.

It’s nice that Disney has introduced nutritional standards for the foods it brands, but why market foods to kids at all? Shouldn’t parents and families be the sole influence for children’s food choices, and not Mickey Mouse?

Jamila Iris Edwards

Prevention Institute
(published October 23, 2006, New York Times)

What should the response to the Disney standards be? Let us know your thoughts!

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