Original article found at www.jetmag.com.
Food advertisements are everywhere. They have become so common that we rarely question their placement. According to a study conducted by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, children were exposed to more unhealthy snack food television ads in the last five years. The data was analyzed from 2010 to 2014, and showed that children and teens were exposed more to TV ads for chips, fruit snacks, cookies, and chips.
Although, companies developed some healthier snacks to meet the national nutrition standards for snacks sold in schools, with the exception of yogurt, these alternatives were not advertised to children. Black and Hispanic children are also disproportionately targeted for unhealthy snacks much more than their white counterparts. Because children of color suffer from higher rates of obesity, snack food advertising intensifies health disparities affecting their communities.
Here are some key findings from the study entitled, Snack FACTS:
- Yogurt advertising declined by 93% and not one fruit brand was advertised on Spanish-language TV in 2014.
- In 2014, Black children saw 64% more snack food ads on TV compared to white children, and Black teens viewed 103% more compared to white teens.
- Black children saw 99% more ads for savory snacks and Black teens saw 129% more, compared with white children and teens.
- In 2014, disparities in exposure increased versus 2010 when Black children and teens had viewed 47% more and Black teens viewed approximately 70% more snack food ads than their white peers.
- Spending on savory snack ads skyrocketed by 551% and sweet snack ads rose by 30%.
- Food companies should stop targeting and marketing unhealthy snacks to young children of color, especially low-income children of color.
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