Is Disney making a smart decision by banning junk food ads on their networks?
Chime in now!
The Walt Disney Company officially announced Tuesday that all products advertised on its child-centered TV, radio and web sites will have to comply with a new set of nutritional standards.
That means that products, such as Capri Sun drinks and Kraft Lunchables meals, which are both current Disney advertisers, would be blocked from Disney's kids-focused media properties, according to the paper. So would a range of candy, sugared cereal and fast food. Disney's restrictions focus on any content targeted to children under the age of 12, whether live-action programs or cartoons.
Details of the restrictions will be revealed in Washington with First Lady Michelle Obama taking part along with Disney chairman Bob Iger.
It's an effort to combat childhood obesity.
The ban on junk food ads is part of a broader Disney commitment that will also include the promise to reduce the amount of sodium in children's meals served at its theme parks by 25 percent, the Times said. Disney will also produce public service announcements to promote exercise and healthy eating among children.
And the company will introduce "Mickey Check" in grocery stores - Disney-licensed products that meet certain limits on calories, saturated fat, sodium and sugar and that can display a logo consisting of Mickey Mouse ears and a check mark on their packaging.
Disney acknowledged that he new initiative will most likely lead to the loss of some advertising revenue, but it wouldn't detail how much, the Times said. The conglomerate argued though that benefits would outweigh the downside.
We are asking our facebook fans this morning if Disney is making a smart decision by banning junk food ads on their networks? Will this help childhood obesity? Chime in now!
