If your children are addicted to the Disney Channel (like I was as a kid and even sometimes a teen), then here's some good news for all moms out there: the Walt Disney Co. has just announced that they plan to help kids kick their junk food habit by only allowing the advertising of healthier foods to kids on their TV channels.
In a move that they're calling the "first major media company to set a standard for food advertising on kid-focused TV programming", I for one hope that more people follow in their footsteps. Anyone that's helping to curb the childhood obesity problem has a big stamp of approval in my book.
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According to the new announcement by Disney, all foods and beverages that are "advertised, promoted or sponsored" on the Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Radio Disney, Disney.com and Saturday morning programming for kids on ABC-owned stations (since Disney owns ABC) will "have to meet the company's nutrition criteria for limiting calories and reducing saturated fat, sodium and sugar."
Thankfully, a lot of the foods that are most harmful to kids (and adults), those pre-packaged lunches, fruit drinks, candy and snack cakes, will no longer by included by 2015. Chairman and CEO of Disney, Robert Iger, explained in a statement:
Parents can be confident that foods associated with Disney characters or advertised on Disney platforms meet our new, healthier nutrition guidelines.
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Meanwhile, First Lady Michelle Obama, a champion in the battle against childhood obesity, supported the company's move in a statement:
This new initiative is truly a game changer for the health of our children. … With this new initiative, Disney is doing what no major media company has ever done before in the U.S.— and what I hope every company will do going forward. When it comes to the ads they show and the food they sell, they are asking themselves one simple question: 'Is this good for our kids?'
I honestly almost cried when I saw this announcement. I wish I were exaggerating, but I'm not. This is going to be an incredible opportunity to help parents teach their kids about healthier foods while having the support of a major company behind them. There's still a lot more work to be done, but I agree with Mrs. Obama that I hope every company will do the same going forward. Our kids need the healthier lessons and less temptations all over their televisions.
What do you think of this new announcement by Disney? Do you hope that more companies will follow in their footsteps and only allow healthy food advertising to kids? Share with us in the comments below!
Image via Disney
