Fw: DELAURO URGES STRONG FAST FOOD MARKETING STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN

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From: "Richards, Kaelan" <Kaelan.Richards@mail.house.gov>

Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 11:12:44 -0600

To: Richards, Kaelan<Kaelan.Richards@mail.house.gov>

Subject: DELAURO URGES STRONG FAST FOOD MARKETING STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               CONTACT: Kaelan Richards

November 9, 2010                                                                   (202) 225-3661

 

DELAURO URGES STRONG FAST FOOD MARKETING STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN

 

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Chairwoman of the FDA and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to the new Fast Food FACTS (Food Advertising to Children and Teens Score) developed by the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale University.

 

The report examined 12 popular nation-wide restaurant chains and found that out of 3,000 kids' meals options, only 12 met the nutritional guidelines for preschool-aged kids. The report also found that $4.2 billion was spent by the fast food industry in 2009, resulting in the average preschooler seeing 21 percent more fast food ads than in 2003. 40 percent of preschoolers, in turn, were found to request McDonalds on a weekly basis, and 15 percent ask to go daily.

 

"During a time when we are trying to fight the obesity epidemic, it is alarming that the fast food industry spends approximately $4.2 billion a year on marketing unhealthy foods and beverages to children. Equally disturbing are the findings that children, from preschoolers to teenagers, see three to five ads per day for fast food.

 

"There needs to be strong standards for child-targeted marketing by fast food restaurants that must include a prohibition on marketing directly to preschoolers.  I also agree with the report's recommendation that fast food restaurants must do more to develop and promote lower-calorie and more nutritious menu items, especially considering unhealthy foods and beverages still dominate fast food restaurant menus.

 

"In the past year, the restaurant industry was part of a collaborative effort with Congress to include new menu labeling requirements in the health care reform law, and some restaurant chains have already started this practice. I urge the industry to continue this effort to combat the obesity epidemic and work toward developing meaningful standards for child-targeted marketing that would apply to all fast food restaurants."

 

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www.delauro.house.gov

 

 

___________________________________

Kaelan Richards

Press Secretary

Office of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03)

(202) 225-3661 (office)

(202) 225-1599 (cell)