The Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity has released a new report titled Trends in Television Food Advertising to Young People: 2011 Update.
It follows up on its 2010 update of the same name. Like other recent studies, this Rudd Center report shows some progress in reducing junk food advertising to kids younger than 12.
But the progress has been modest:
- Though industry has been boasting about the decline in advertising to young children, the study finds that the decrease from 2004 to 2011 is from 14 advertisements/day to 13 advertisements/day on average for kids younger than 12.
- Since the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI) industry self-regulatory program was implemented, advertisements aimed at kids for carbonated soft drinks, sweet snacks, salty snacks, and cereal have decreased. Ads for candy, fast food, and other restaurants have increased, however.
- Ads for fruits, vegetables, and water have increased but, together, comprise less than 1 percent of kids’ advertising.
Rudd also reports on advertising to teens and adults.
Access the report here.