Start Date: September 2008

ID #: 65058

Principal Investigator: Margo Wootan, DSc

Organization: Center for Science in the Public Interest

Funding Round: Round 3

See more related research

Share


The goal of this work is to provide an in-depth examination and comparison of industry efforts to self-regulate food and beverage marketing to children. More specifically, this macro-level analysis will: (a) analyze, compare, and contrast food and entertainment companies’ policies on food marketing to children with respect to their nutrition standards, media approaches covered, and definition of child audience, (b) assess changes in companies’ portfolio of products marketed to children, and (c) educate the public, health professionals, companies, and policymakers on the strength of the various policies and the magnitude of their collective impact. Researchers will develop and utilize comprehensive grading criteria, resulting in a ‘food marketing report card,’ to rate and rank the company policies based on the Guidelines for Responsible Food Marketing to Children (CSPI), Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the reach of the marketing techniques, and existing research in this area. Best practices in the industry will be highlighted.

Related Research

March 2010

Report Card on Food-Marketing Policies: An Analysis of Food and Entertainment Company Policies Regarding Food and Beverage Marketing to Children

This 34-page report examines whether companies marketing food to children have adopted a policy on marketing to children, and if so, whether those policies are adequate in adhering to nutrition-based standards. Of the 128 companies assessed, only 32% had a policy for marketing food to children. Of the companies who did, none received a grade More

February 2023

Rapid Health Impact Assessment on Changes to School Nutrition Standards to Align with 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

The national school breakfast and lunch programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are cornerstone federal nutrition assistance programs. School meals are one of the healthiest sources of foods for school-age children, which is significant as some children receive up to half of their daily calories at school. Policy opportunities in 2023 More

November 2022

Promising Strategies to Increase Student Participation in School Meals

School meal programs play a critical role in feeding children. Meals served in school are generally of better nutritional quality than those that students bring from home and have been linked to improved academic performance and household food security. The aim of this research brief is to highlight and summarize rigorous evidence from a new More