Unethical Food Marketing to Children
Unethical Food Marketing to Children
In today’s society, the food and beverage industry is faced with an ongoing ethical dilemma because they are far more concerned with making money than providing a good, safe, and healthy product for consumers. The biggest victims in this unethical marketing scheme are children. Children are the least informed and most influenced of all potential consumers (5). Although children usually don’t directly purchase these products themselves, their desires strongly influence their parent’s decision on what to buy and what the child will eat. Most products geared towards children are unhealthy, processed foods that are high in sugars and low in nutritional content (6). This has led to a rise in childhood obesity and other health related problems in children. To make matters worse, consumers recklessly purchase products that they aren’t always familiar with simply because of the influential advertising that leaves a lasting impression on them. The packaging techniques of companies are geared directly towards attracting kids based on a product being cool or looking fun. Television ads are action-packed, cool, and hip to attract kids to their product based on nothing but an impression. The ethical question is whether companies should be more responsible for their role in the health of society’s children, or should society be more responsible for regulating their intake of foods that have a potential negative effect. Children are so important to society because they are the future society. If we want a better future, start by providing a better, healthy start for kids. Healthy diet has been directly linked to brain development in children. Healthy, fit kids means there are less chances of future health problems related to obesity. Bad diets significantly increase childhood health problems and obesity and also set a standard for future adult health patterns. Childhood obesity almost always leads to adult obesity which is
In today’s society, the food and beverage industry is faced with an ongoing ethical dilemma because they are far more concerned with making money than providing a good, safe, and healthy product for consumers. The biggest victims in this unethical marketing scheme are children. Children are the least informed and most influenced of all potential consumers (5). Although children usually don’t directly purchase these products themselves, their desires strongly influence their parent’s decision on what to buy and what the child will eat. Most products geared towards children are unhealthy, processed foods that are high in sugars and low in nutritional content (6). This has led to a rise in childhood obesity and other health related problems in children. To make matters worse, consumers recklessly purchase products that they aren’t always familiar with simply because of the influential advertising that leaves a lasting impression on them. The packaging techniques of companies are geared directly towards attracting kids based on a product being cool or looking fun. Television ads are action-packed, cool, and hip to attract kids to their product based on nothing but an impression. The ethical question is whether companies should be more responsible for their role in the health of society’s children, or should society be more responsible for regulating their intake of foods that have a potential negative effect. Children are so important to society because they are the future society. If we want a better future, start by providing a better, healthy start for kids. Healthy diet has been directly linked to brain development in children. Healthy, fit kids means there are less chances of future health problems related to obesity. Bad diets significantly increase childhood health problems and obesity and also set a standard for future adult health patterns. Childhood obesity almost always leads to adult obesity which is
Cited: 1) Griffin, R.M. (2008). Expert q&a: helping your child with weight loss. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/expert-q-and-a-helping-your-child-with-weight-loss 2) Marr, K. (2008, July 30). Children targets of $1.6 billion in food ads. The Washington Post. 3) Palmer, E.L. (2006). Food and beverage marketing to children in school. Palmer Print Ready, 39(1), Retrieved from http://llr.lls.edu/volumes/v39-issue1/docs/palmer.pdf 4) Rochman, B. (2009, November 2). Sweet spot: how sugary-cereal makers target kids. Time Magazine, Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1931730,00.html 5) Smith, G. (1997). Children 's food: Marketing and innovation. London: Blackie Academic & Professional. 6) Thilikam, Dr. C. (2009, May 6). Unethical marketing of children 's food: issues and challenges. Retrieved from http://www.indianmba.com/Faculty_Column/FC1010/fc1010.html