Regulating Food Advertising

According to journalist Malcom Muggeridge, he quoted, “History will see advertising as one of the real evil things of our time. It is stimulating people constantly to want things, want this, want that.” Everywhere people go, they see food ads in almost everything from billboards to magazines. They are exposed to harmful foods and beverages which encourage people to buy them because they look delicious. During the 1920’s, the first fast food, White Castle, was advertise in newspapers, which gradually spread to radios and televisions. As more food ads were created, the American spending in food increased and so did the rates of obesity. Some may argue that food advertising does not contribute to obesity. This, however, is not true. One reason

Researchers from Brady Darvin’s article “Regulating Food Ads To Children Will Not Reduce Obesity” concluded that “parents, rather than a advertising, are the strongest influence on children’s eating and drinking behavior.” They are saying that parents are responsible for their children’s health because they are the ones who make the choice to turn on the television and allow their kid to see food ads. This is not true because parents cannot always be with their children 24/7. Like for example, when they go to school or at a friend’s house, they cannot see what their children are putting in their body. According to Chief Executive Officer Tess Alps, he stated: “I passionately believe that advertising is an overwhelmingly positive part of our lives and society in the UK.” One of the positive effects of food ads is that they educate consumers about new products that can help them improve their lives. Also, it helps the economy and increases the number of job openings. However, food ads do not affect people’s lives positively but, is harming their health instead. Children are being targeted by food ads all the time which confuses them about nutrition and usually ends up eating harmful food products. Opponents have stated that food ads have nothing to do with the increased rate of obesity and that

According to Stephanie Soechtig in the movie Fed Up, she stated that “eighty percent of the 600,000 food products in the United States have added sugar.” This shows that most foods marketed on TV to kids contain high amounts of sugar. Despite the danger of sugar consumption, food companies still advertise their sugary food products to children by stating they are healthy even though it is false. In Eliza Barclay’s article, “Scientists Are Building A Case For How Food Ads Make Us Overeat,” she indicated that numerous food companies are spending “less than one-half of one percent of their marketing dollars to promote fruits and vegetables.” This shows that food companies are spending most of their money to promote unhealthy foods, such as cereals, soft drinks, fast food, candy and snacks to kids. It also shows that food companies are putting little consideration to children’s health. In the movie Fed Up, Stephanie Soechtig concluded: “sugar as a poison potentially more addictive than cocaine.” This shows that consuming too much sugar is a lot more complicated than doing drugs, smoking or drinking alcohol. Sugar is known as one of the most addicting and dangerous substances in the world. Overall, the overconsumption of unhealthy food that is high in calories, salt and sugar can make children overweight or