The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the nutritional quality of the foods advertised on children’s programs on Spanish-language broadcast and cable channels, and to compare it to English-language channels. The study will examine a wide range of descriptive measures that include product type, persuasive theme/appeal, use of mascots, celebrities, licensed characters, contests, premiums, and Web site promotions. Thus, in addition to examining the food products (and nutritional quality of these products) advertised to children on Spanish language television stations, it will also identify the persuasive tactics that are used to influence child-viewers in food marketing directed to children on Spanish language television stations and establish how these tactics differ across food products of varying nutritional value. Furthermore, the study will examine the extent to which industry self-regulatory pledges from the nation’s leading food companies have been fulfilled, with data comparing these assessments for English-language and Spanish-language channels.
Start Date: September 2008
ID #: 65076
Principal Investigator: Dale Kunkel, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator: Dana Mastro, PhD
Organization: University of Arizona
Funding Round: Round 3
Age Groups: Elementary-age children (grades K to 5), Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5), Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)
Keywords: Fast food, Food advertising, Fruits and vegetables, Media, Restaurant, Self-regulation, Snacks, Spanish language
Focus Area: Food Marketing
Resource Type: Grant Summary
Race/Ethnicity: Latino(a) or Hispanic
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