Food Marketing to Children on U.S. Spanish-Language Television

This paper analyzes food and beverage advertising on Spanish-language children’s television compared with advertising found on English-language programs. Researchers found that although the amount of food advertising was lower on Spanish-language channels than on English-language programs, the nutritional quality of foods advertised on Spanish-language channels was substantially poorer than on English-language channels. More than 84 percent of foods and beverages advertised to children on Spanish-language television shows were unhealthy. Fast-food commercials accounted for nearly half (46%) of all child-targeted food advertising on Spanish-language television. Among companies that have pledged to reform their child-directed advertising practices to promote healthier choices, 78 percent of ads aimed at children on Spanish-language television and 69 percent of ads aimed at children on English-language television were for unhealthy foods or drinks.