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RepoRt CaRd on Food-MaRketing poliCies an analysis oF Food and enteRtainMent A CoMpany poliCies RegaRding B+ FoAod a-nd BeveRage MaRketing to ChildRen F C B- D+ This study on corporate policies on the marketing of food to children was conducted, © MARCH 2010 and the report written, by Margo G. Wootan, DSc, Ameena Batada, DrPH, and Ona Balkus. Additional help with data collection and analysis was provided by Arianne For more information, Corbett, RD, Lauren McLarney, Seth Coburn, Lindsey Vickroy, and Annalisse Leekley. model policies, and other materials, contact: CSPI and the Nutrition Policy Project MARGO G. WOOTAN, DS c The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. Since 1971, CSPI has been working to improve the CENTER FOR SCIENCE public’s health through its work on nutrition, food safety, and alcohol issues. IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST (CSPI) CSPI is supported primarily by the 850,000 subscribers to its Nutrition Action Healthletter and philanthropic foundations. PHONE: 202 777 8352 CSPI’s Nutrition Policy Project works with concerned citizens, health professionals, FAX: government officials and other nonprofit organizations to strengthen national, 202 265 4954 state, and local policies and programs to promote healthy eating and reduce obesity. EMAIL: Our goals are to help reduce the illnesses, disabilities, and deaths caused by [email protected] diet- and obesity-related diseases and conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes. For more information on CSPI’s projects and other policies to promote healthy eating and reduce obesity, visit www.cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy. Report Card on Food-Marketing Policies: An Analysis of Food and Entertainment Company Policies Regarding Food and Beverage Marketing to Children is available on-line, free of charge at www.cspinet.org/marketingreportcard . Acknowledgements The Center for Science in the Public Interest deeply appreciates the financial support provided for this report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Healthy Eating Research project and CSPI members. We thank the members of the Food Marketing Report Card advisory committee for their advice in determining which companies to include in the study, evaluating our assessment/grading criteria, and reviewing the report: angela Campbell, Jd, llM Josh golin, Ma Georgetown University Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood sana Chehimi, Mph Prevention Institute Jeff Mcintyre, Ma Children NOW lisa Craypo, Mph, Rd Samuels & Associates, Inc. suzen Moeller, phd American Medical Association lori dorfman, drph Berkeley Media Studies Group ellen Wartella, phd University of California, Riverside Roberta Friedman, scM Rudd Center for Food Policy laurie Whitsel, phd and Obesity, Yale University American Heart Association Marvin goldberg, phd Makani themba-nixon Penn State University Praxis Project Food-MaRketing poliCy RepoRt CaR d1 gRade CoMpanies gRade CoMpanies — Unilever (Popsicle, Skippy); Highlights for Children, A Inc.; Dannon Company; McDonald’s USA, LLC; H.J. C- Heinz Company (Bagel Bites); Viacom International B+ Mars, Inc. Inc. (Nickelodeon) Sunny Delight Beverages Co.; Krispy Kreme QUBO Venture, LLC; Doughnut Corporation; Cartoon Network; B Procter & Gamble Company (Pringles) D+ Ruby Tuesday, Inc. Nestlé USA; Kraft Foods Global, Inc.; Cadbury Adams Doctor’s Associates Inc. (Subway); USA, LLC; Hershey Company; Dunkin’ Brands; Yum! Brands, Inc. (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell); B- General Mills, Inc. D CEC Entertainment Concepts, L.P. (Chuck E. Cheese’s) Post Foods, LLC; PepsiCo Inc.; Public Broadcasting — C+ Service (PBS); Coca-Cola Company D- Walt Disney Company (including ABC, Funschool, and Bob Evans Farms, Inc.; CBS Corporation; Pixar); Burger King Corporation; Campbell Soup American Dairy Queen Corporation; Discovery Company; Sesame Workshop; Hostess Brands, Inc.; Communications, LLP; Mattel, Inc.; NBC Universal, C Kellogg Company; ConAgra Foods, Inc. (Chef F Inc.; Univision Communications Inc.; Warner Bros. Boyardee, Kid Cuisine, Peter Pan) Entertainment Inc. (New Line Cinemas) 20th Century Fox Kerasotes ShowPlace Theatre Perfetti Van Melle S.p.A. (Airheads) Activision (Sierra Studios, video games) Kids Discover (magazine) Perkins & Marie Callender’s Inc. Alloy Media and Marketing (Channel One) Klutz (crafts and games) Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation F AMC Entertainment LFP Publishing, LLC Pinnacle Foods Group LLC o American Girl Magazine (Tips & Tricks Magazine) (Aunt Jemima, Lender’s, Duncan Hines) n American Greetings Corporations Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. Pokémon Company policy Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. Lucasfilm Ltd. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Blizzard Entertainment (video games) Major League Soccer, L.L.C. (AFC Enterprises, Inc.) Blue Sky Studios (Ice Age, Robots) Marcus Corporation (movie theater) QIP Holder LLC (Quiznos) Boys’ Life Magazine Marvel Characters, Inc. Rave Motion Pictures, LLC Brinker International (Chili’s Grill & Bar) McKee Foods Corporation Red Robin International, Inc. Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar (Little Debbie snack cakes) Regal Entertainment Group Cajun Operating Company (Church’s Chicken) MGA Entertainment, Inc. (Bratz) Romano’s Macaroni Grill Carmike Cinemas, Inc. Microsoft Corporation (XBox) Ryan’s Restaurant Group, Inc. Cheesecake Factory Assets Co. LLC MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (Hometown Buffet/Old Country Buffet) Chick-fil-A, Inc. (Major League Baseball) Sara Lee Corporation Cinemark USA, Inc. National Amusements Inc. (movie theater) Scholastic Inc. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. National Association for Stock Car Auto Schwan’s Home Service, Inc. CKE Restaurants, Inc. (Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s) Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) Sizzler Restaurants Darden Concepts, Inc. (Red Lobster, National Geographic Society SONIC Corp. Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse) (National Geographic Kids) Sony Corporation of America Denny’s, Inc. National Hockey League (Play Station, Sony Motion Pictures) DineEquity, Inc. (Applebee’s, IHOP) National Wildlife Federation Sunkist Growers, Inc. Domino’s Pizza (Wild Animal Baby Magazine,Your T.G.I. Friday’s Inc. E.W. Scripps Company (Peanuts Comic) Big Backyard Magazine, Ranger Rick) Texas Roadhouse, Inc. Electronic Arts, Inc. (video games) NBA Properties, Inc. Time Inc. (Sports Illustrated for Kids, Golden Corral NFL Enterprises LLC Time for Kids) Girls’ Life Acquisition Co. (magazine) Nintendo of America, Inc. Topps Company, Inc. (Bazooka, Hansen Beverage Company OSI Restaurant Partners, LLC Ring Pop, Baby Bottle Pop) Hasbro, Inc. (Outback Steakhouse) Waffle House, Inc. HIT Entertainment Limited (Barney, Bob Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. Wendy’s International Inc. the Builder, Thomas the Train) (Panda Express) Whataburger Restaurants LP Hollywood Theaters, Inc. Panera Bread World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. HP Hood LLC Papa John’s International, Inc. Zoobooks Jack in the Box Inc. Pearson Education, Inc. (Fun Brain) 1 Within each grade, companies are listed from highest to lower scores. RepoRt CaRd on Food-MaRketing poliCies an analysis oF Food and Summary The National Academies’ Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that television food enteRtainMent advertising affects children’s food choices, food purchase requests, diets, and health. Yet, companies spend approximately $2 billion a year on marketing foods and beverages CoMpany to children, mostly for foods high in calories, fats, sugars, and sodium, and low in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and key nutrients. poliCies In 2008, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommended that “all companies that market food or beverage products to children [should] adopt and adhere to meaningful nutrition-based standards for marketing their products” and that marketing include RegaRding all advertising and promotional techniques. In the past few years, a number of food and entertainment companies have Food and announced policies on food marketing to children independently or through the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ (CBBB) Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising BeveRage Initiative (CFBAI). This report examines whether companies that market food to children have adopted a policy on marketing to children, and if so, the adequacy of that policy. The report does not assess whether companies complied with MaRketing their policies in practice. During the summer of 2009, CSPI staff conducted telephone interviews and searched to ChildRen company Web sites, articles in the Nexis news service, and used Google keyword searches to collect company policies on marketing to children. We evaluated food and beverage manufacturers, chain restaurants, and entertainment companies that market food to children. We assessed policies for marketing to children under the age of 12 years old and for marketing in elementary and secondary schools. Although some children in middle schools and all children in high schools are not under 12, schools are a unique space that should be free of the marketing of low-nutrition foods. “All companies that market food We evaluated the strength of the companies’ nutrition or beverage products to children [should] standards, scope of media covered by their policies, adopt and adhere to meaningful nutrition-based and their definitions for “child-directed” media. standards for marketing their products” and that Of the 128 companies analyzed, two-thirds (68%) did marketing should include all advertising and not have a policy for food marketing to children. A much larger proportion of food and beverage manufacturers promotional techniques.