The New Age of Food Marketing: How Companies are Targeting and Luring Our Kids – and What Advocates Can Do About It

Published: October 2011

ID #: 65063

Publisher: Center for Digital Democracy, Public Health Law & Policy, and Berkeley Media Studies Group

Authors: Montgomery K, Grier S, Chester J, Dorfman L

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This report provides a snapshot of five categories of marketing tactics used by fast food, snack food, and soft drink companies to target children and adolescents. These categories include: 1) creating immersive environments; 2) infiltrating social networks; 3) location-based and mobile marketing; 4) collecting personal data; and 5) studying and triggering the subconscious. Descriptions of these categories along with examples from the food and beverage industry are provided. The report concludes with a discussion of what advocates can do to protect children and adolescents from these harmful marketing tactics.

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Age Groups: Adolescents (grades 9 to 12), Elementary-age children (grades K to 5), Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5), Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)

Keywords: Digital marketing, Food advertising, Media, Social media

Focus Area: Food Marketing

Resource Type: Report

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