Children's Food Advertising

Healthy habits start from home, not the T.V. With that said, if parent’s do not want their children exposed to television advertisments of companies who pay to have their ads shown, their children should not be watching that much T.V, or limited to watching when their parents are present to fast forward through commercials they don’t want their kids watching. I understand where Margo G. Wootan is coming from because the obesity rate has gotten out of control, but parents cannot rely on the television to influence their children. They should be informed on the importance of eating healthy and how junk food, if eaten uncontrollably can harm their health. The guidelines of food and beverages that are outlined in this article are understandable, and in an ideal world should be followed but I personally feel like you cannot blame advertising for children’s unhealthy eating habits so I think the criteria of what should and should not be marketed is a little crazy. Because of all of this, I think that Robert Liodice makes a stronger argument. The article says “Without the free exchange of information, we limit the ability of Americans to be fully informed to make the choices that are inherently theirs to make. When those freedoms are jeopardized, we all lose. When you begin to chip away, even marginally, we all run the risk of sliding down that slippery slope of diminishing rights and privelages.” (336) I agree 100% with this point. I feel like I could quote his whole article because I agree so much with what he says so I’ll limit myself to the following: “Unlike CSPI’s guidelines which mislead the public by narrowly focusing on food advertising, the Surgeon General’s report [2001] contains thoughtful, specific recommendations on how to address the challenge [of childhood nutrition] in a balance, comprehensive way” (337)He goes on to say the challenge of childhood nutrition instead calls on individuals, families, schools, etc. to work together to bring better health to everyone in the country.