Junk Food
In thousands of schools across the country, corporations and school administrators have joined together to market high-calorie, caffeinated, high-sugar candy and soda pop and other junk food and fast food to impressionable children.
Propaganda touting the consumption of junk food is now commonplace in the nation's schools. Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Channel One are the worst offenders.
We work with parents, teachers, and students to stop the marketing of junk food to children.
More Information
News Releases
Commercial Alert Responds to FTC Study on Junk Food Marketing to Kids
Robert Weissman | July 29th, 2008
Clinton School Food Deal Good for Junk Food Company PR, Not Kids
Gary Ruskin | October 6th, 2006
New Bill on Food in Schools Deserves Swift Passage, Says Commercial Alert
Gary Ruskin | April 6th, 2006
USDA Won’t Enforce Rules Against Junk Food Sales in Schools
Gary Ruskin | June 14th, 2005
Commercial Alert Petitions USDA to Enforce Restrictions on Sale of Junk Food in Schools
Gary Ruskin | April 26th, 2005
American Diabetes Association Sells Out to Cadbury Schweppes
Gary Ruskin | April 21st, 2005
Health Experts Call for Worldwide Ban on Marketing of Junk Food to Kids
Gary Ruskin | February 27th, 2004
Commercial Alert Criticizes National PTA Over Coke Sponsorship
Gary Ruskin | June 4th, 2003
Childhood Obesity Prevention Campaign Launched
Gary Ruskin | April 2nd, 2003
Commercial Alert, Groups Urge HHS Sec. Thompson to Support WHO Effort to Fight Junk Food Marketing, Prevent Obesity, Diabetes
Gary Ruskin | May 10th, 2002
Stop Peddling Junk Food to Children, Commercial Alert Tells Publishers
Gary Ruskin | September 22nd, 2000
Coalition Wants Schools to Stop Pushing Junk Food on Children
Gary Ruskin and Jim Metrock | July 12th, 2000
Articles
Expel Junk Food from School
Gary Ruskin | December 12th, 2005
Kennedy Introduces Bill to Ban Junk Food From Schools Nationwide
Gary Ruskin | April 18th, 2005
A Sign of Despair from the Ad Industry
Gary Ruskin | January 26th, 2005
Swann Song
Gary Ruskin | January 13th, 2005
The Fast Food Trap: How Commercialism Creates Overweight Children
Gary Ruskin | October 31st, 2003
Related Articles and Links
Related Articles
McDonald's Likes Leno for In-Show Monopoly Promo
Theresa Howard | USA Today | July 12th, 2009
Alcohol, Then Tobacco. Now Fast Food?
Douglas MacMillan | BusinessWeek | June 30th, 2009
Health Groups Want Ban on Junk-Food Marketing Ploys
Daniella Miletic | The Age (Australia) | June 9th, 2009
Hollywood Continues Its Fast-Food Binge
T.L. Stanley | BrandWeek | June 6th, 2009
McDonald's, Fox Sign Global Movie Tie-In Deal
Karlene Lukovitz | MediaPost | May 13th, 2009
Researchers Urge Crackdown on Junk Food TV Ads
Elke Bun | Reuters | May 8th, 2009
Hershey Sponsors Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Editor | EVLiving.com | April 27th, 2009
Little Debbie to Serve as Sponsor for Fiesta Atlanta's Soccer Challenge
PRNewswire | March 31st, 2009
KFC Offers to Fill Up the Nation's ... Potholes
Kenneth Hein | BrandWeek | March 25th, 2009
McDonald's Makes Major Move into School Education with Free Online Maths Program
Bruce McDougall | The Daily Telegraph (Australia) | March 20th, 2009
FTC Could Set Standards for Food Marketing Aimed at Teens
Ira Teinowitz | Advertising Age | March 11th, 2009
Buzz Haircuts Earn Sweeps Entry for New Butterfinger Buzz Candy
Amy Johannes | PROMO Magazine | February 12th, 2009
Scholastic Corp. Criticized For Marketing Toys, Video Games in School-based Book Clubs
David Crary | Associate Press | February 9th, 2009
Burger King Product Placement on Facebook
Product Placement News | January 9th, 2009
Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Nestle 'Obtaining Children's Personal Details'
Matt Johnston | Herald Sun | December 3rd, 2008
KFC Teams Up With NFL
Hispanic Business | November 21st, 2008
Pepsi Plans Big Mexican Investment
Betsy McKay | The Wall Street Journal | November 21st, 2008
McDonald's Courts Moms As Fast-Food Emissaries
Michael S. Rosenwald | Washington Post | November 20th, 2008
Study: Banning Fast-Food TV Ads Could Dent Obesity
Mike Stobbe | The Washington Times | November 20th, 2008
A Drink Backed by a Sports Hero (Wielding a Mean Game Controller)
Stephanie Clifford | The New York Times | November 18th, 2008
TiVo, Domino's to let Subscribers Order Through TV
BusinessWeek | November 17th, 2008
BK Push Takes 'Simpsons' Far From Springfield
T.L. Stanley | AdWeek | November 10th, 2008
Ordering Pizza Hut From Your Facebook Page? It's on the Way
Emily Bryson York | Advertising Age | November 10th, 2008
Happy World
Brian Quinton | PROMO Magazine | October 29th, 2008
Australian Food Companies Agree Not to Push Junk on Kids
AFP | October 24th, 2008
Children's Ads Provide Junk Food for Thought
Kevin Freking | The Mercury | October 6th, 2008
Food Firms Under Fire Over 'Unhealthy' Cartoon Adverts
Ben Bailey | The Scotsman | October 1st, 2008
FCC Dissatisfied with Media’s Reluctance to Fight Childhood Obesity
Anna Carugati | Worldscreen.com | September 24th, 2008
Panel Hears Thoughts on Food Marketing to Kids
Emily Fredrix | The Washington Post | September 23rd, 2008
Taco Bell Enjoys Its Gig as Indie-Rock Promoter
Emily Bryson York | Advertising Age | September 11th, 2008
Coke Zero Gets Double-O Status for James Bond Tie-in
Emma Hall | Advertising Age | September 9th, 2008
Burger King Branded Entertainment
PPN Staff | Product Placement News | September 8th, 2008
New Push for Junk Food Ad Bans
The Age (Australia) | August 28th, 2008
Junk Food Ads to Stay: Regulator
Kelly Burke | The Age (Australia) | August 28th, 2008
Does Marketing Contribute to Obesity in African-Americans?
Emily Bryson York | Advertising Age | August 27th, 2008
Michael Phelps Criticised for Frosted Flakes Sponsorship Deal
Darren Davidson | Brand Republic | August 22nd, 2008
FTC Commissioner Tackles Ads for Kids
Ross Kenneth Urken | The Wall Street Journal | August 20th, 2008
Breakfast of a champion? Frosted Flakes! Phelps signs with cereal
Richa Schapiro | New York Daily News | August 20th, 2008
Coke Pins China Hopes On Blitz in Beijing
Geoffrey A. Fowler and Betsy McKay | The Wall Street Journal | August 19th, 2008
McDonald's Scores Gold with Plugs by Athletes
Grant Robertson | The Globe and Mail (Canada) | August 19th, 2008
M&M’s Get Sweet on Hispanics
Evelyn Lee | NJ Biz | August 18th, 2008
Papa John's Pie in the Sky
Laura Petrecca and Bruce Horovitz | USA Today | August 17th, 2008
Crying Foul over Online Junk Food Marketing
Catherine Holahan | BusinessWeek | August 12th, 2008
BK Markets to Young Hispanics
QSR Magazine | July 30th, 2008
Junk Food Marketed to Kids is a $1.6 Billion a Year Business, Study Finds
My Fox Twin Cities | July 29th, 2008
FTC: Kids Target of $1.6 Billion in Food Ads
Kevin Freking | The Associated Press | July 29th, 2008
Chew on This: Hit Song Is a Gum Jingle
Ethan Smith and Julie Jargon | The Wall Street Journal | July 28th, 2008
Carvel, Kraft Join Youth Soccer Tour
Richard Tedesco | PROMO Magazine | July 28th, 2008
Tang Gets Kicks with Soccer Tie-in for Latino Kids
PROMO Magazine | July 15th, 2008
M&M'S Brand Launches Major Hispanic Marketing Campaign
PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE | July 15th, 2008
Does America Need Strong Laws to Fight Obesity? Yes
Susan Linn | The Charleston Gazette | July 13th, 2008
Sponsors Provoke More Emotional Response in Fans
Emma Hall | Advertising Age | July 10th, 2008
Survey Reveals Moms Wary of Ads Aimed at Kids
Beth Snyder Bulik | Advertising Age | June 25th, 2008
Schools Consider Deal With Coke
Darren Bernhardt | The StarPhoenix (Canada) | June 10th, 2008
Coke, Pepsi Vow to Eliminate Worldwide Marketing to Kids Under 12
Patricia Odell | PROMO Magazine | May 21st, 2008
Burger King Brands Subscription Mobile Games
PROMO Magazine | April 24th, 2008
Junk Food Ads Find Web Home
Julian Lee | Sydney Morning Herald | April 16th, 2008
Council To Consider Junk Food Ad Ban For Kids
Metroland Durham Region Media Group (Canada) | April 9th, 2008
Nestlé Uses Prank to Promote Branded Comedy Network
Brian Quinton | PROMO Magazine | April 3rd, 2008
Fatty Food on the Tube a Large Problem
Jennifer Torres | The Record | March 26th, 2008
Obesity Experts Back Junk Food Marketing Ban
Scoop Health | March 14th, 2008
Junk Food Ad Ban Comes into Force in Britain
Agence France-Presse | January 1st, 2008
Fast Food Gets its Greasy Hands on Report Cards
Julie Deardorff | Chicago Tribune | December 16th, 2007
Effort to Limit Junk Food in Schools Faces Hurdles
Kim Severson | The New York Times | December 2nd, 2007
Living Well: Food Biz Feeds Kids a Steady Marketing Diet
Bob Condor | Seattle Post-Intelligencer | April 4th, 2007
Junk Foods to be Banned in British Schools
Philippe Naughton | Times of London | September 28th, 2005
Junk Food Nation: Who's to Blame for Childhood Obesity?
Gary Ruskin and Juliet Schor | The Nation | August 11th, 2005
The Fairy Tale About Soft Drink Nutrition Won't Sell
Derrick Z. Jackson | Boston Globe | November 30th, 2004
Chicago Schools to Ban Soda, Candy
Reuters | April 21st, 2004
Maine Students to Lose Candy, Soda Machines
Tom Bell | Portland Press Herald | December 12th, 2003
Maine Students to Lose Candy, Soda Machines
Tom Bell | Portland Press Herald | December 12th, 2003
State Becomes Sour on Sweets in School; Policy Aims to Reduce Student Obesity
Jeffrey Gilbert and Ruth Rendon | Houston Chronicle | August 6th, 2003
State Becomes Sour on Sweets in School; Policy Aims to Reduce Student Obesity
Jeffrey Gilbert and Ruth Rendon | Houston Chronicle | August 6th, 2003
Advocates Push for More Healthy Foods in Schools
Susan Snyder | Philadelphia Inquirer | July 10th, 2003
Advocates Push for More Healthy Foods in Schools
Susan Snyder | Philadelphia Inquirer | July 10th, 2003
New York City Cuts Back Fat and Sweets in School Meals
Abby Goodnough | The New York Times | June 24th, 2003
S.F. Schools Join War on Obesity, Ban Junk Food; Soda, Candy to be Banished -- But Only from Cafeterias
Ray Delgado | San Francisco Chronicle | January 15th, 2003
S.F. Schools Join War on Obesity, Ban Junk Food; Soda, Candy to be Banished -- But Only from Cafeterias
Ray Delgado | San Francisco Chronicle | January 15th, 2003
Metro Schools Cancel Channel One
Natalia Mielczarek | The Tennessean | November 25th, 2002
Schools to End Soda Sales; L.A. Unified: The Soft Drinks Won't be Allowed on Campuses Starting in 2004.
Erika Hayasaki | Los Angeles Times | August 28th, 2002
TEA Slaps Lid on School Junk Foods; New Guidelines are Instituted to Combat Child Obesity
Lucy Hood | San Antonio Express-News | May 2nd, 2002
TEA Slaps Lid on School Junk Foods; New Guidelines are Instituted to Combat Child Obesity
Lucy Hood | San Antonio Express-News | May 2nd, 2002
Oakland Schools Ban Vending Machine Food
Kim Severson | San Francisco Chronicle | January 16th, 2002
Oakland Schools Ban Vending Machine Food
Kim Severson | San Francisco Chronicle | January 16th, 2002
Advertising to be Curbed in Schools; Policy Will Phase Out Channel One, Commercial Logos
Gregory Roberts | Seattle Post-Intelligencer | November 22nd, 2001
California Legislators Ban Sale of Junk Food in Elementary, Middle Schools
Bradley Weaver | North County Times | November 6th, 2001
California Legislators Ban Sale of Junk Food in Elementary, Middle Schools
Bradley Weaver | North County Times | November 6th, 2001
School Board Ditches Contract with Coca-Cola
Doug Erickson | Wisconsin State Journal | August 29th, 2000
Fight on Obesity Faces Hefty Commercial Problems
Marion Nestle | New York Newsday | June 22nd, 2000
External Links
Kids and Advertising
A comprehensive website on advertising aimed at children.
Center for Informed Food Choices
Soft Drinks in Schools
American Academy of Pediatrics | January, 2004
Halting the Obesity Epidemic: A Public Health Policy Approach
Nestle and Jacobson, Public Health Reports | January/February, 2000
America: Drowning in Sugar
Center for Science in the Public Interest | August 3, 1999
Relation Between Consumption of Sugar-sweetened Drinks and Childhood Obesity: a Prospective, Observational Analysis
Ludwig, Peterson, & Gortmaker, The Lancet | February 17, 2001
Childhood Obesity: Public Health Crisis, Common Sense Cure
Ebbeling, Pawlak, Ludwig, The Lancet | 2002-08-10
The Health Risks of Obesity: Worse than Smoking, Drinking or Poverty
R. Sturm, RAND Health |
Foods Sold in Competition with USDA School Meal Programs: A Report to Congress
U.S. Department of Agriculture | January 12, 2001
Seattle School Board Approves Comprehensive Suite of Nutrition Policies; Sales of Sodas and Junk Food Banned on School Campuses
Seattle School Board |
Fast Food Restaurant Use Among Adolescents: Associations with Nutrient Intake, Food Choices and Behavioral and Psychosocial Variables
French et al., Int'l Journal of Obesity | (2001) 25, 1823-33
Prevalence and Trends in Overweight Among US Children and Adolescents, 1999-2000
Cynthia L. Odgen et al., JAMA | October 9, 2002
Effects of Fast-Food Consumption on Energy Intake and Diet Quality Among Children in a National Household Survey
Bowman et al., Pediatrics | January, 2004
Rethinking School Lunch
Center for Ecoliteracy |
Reading, Writing and Raisinets: Are School Finances Contributing to Children's Obesity
Patricia M. Anderson and Kristin F. Butcher, National Bureau of Economic Research |
Liquid Candy
Michael F. Jacobson, Center for Science in the Public Interest |
Effects of Decreasing Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption on Body Weight in Adolescents: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study
Cara B. Ebbeling, PhD, et al., Pediatrics, March 2006 |
