Disney’s stand on unhealthy foods

Ads for ‘junk’ foods to be 'phased out'

The Disney Corporation has announced that by 2015 advertisements for food products not meeting nutritional guidelines will no longer appear on its websites, children’s television stations or the US national broadcast station ABC. Although this is a move by just one company, Disney’s influence is such that the move has been welcomed by Michelle Obama as a ‘game changer for the health of our children’.

The company’s nutritional guidelines (established in 2006) include limits on the level of sugar, salt and fat that can be in an advertised product (including no added trans fats).  For example, nuggets and meatballs that provide any added trans fat, or more than any of the following would not be advertised: 250 calories, 1.1g of saturated fat, 2.5g of sugar per 100 calories and 480mg of sodium.

In addition, fast-food ‘meals’ cannot be advertised if the constituent parts of the meal, added together, reach an unhealthy level. The company will also make efforts to advertise healthier products, such as fruit.

Source:  NHS Choices, 7 June 2012.

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