Marketing food to children | Anna Lappe | TEDxManhattan

[@DavidElliottLewis]

Bravo. Great speech. My favorite quote was a statement to be made to the fast food industry - "my children, all of our children are none of your business."

[@erikasanchez7972]

We need more education for the parents too. I have a friend's ex that brought up her daughter to be vegetarian, yet every time I made broccoli, squash, zucchini, the child would ask "what's that?" she would not eat it either. Child told me the mother is never home never cooks for them, child thought mac and cheese and peanut butter sandwiches were vegetarian food.

[@rosagorda]

In my school (I am an English teacher), we are studying the effects of marketing to children, and we are writing expository essays about it.

[@paperclip360]

Kids aren't idiots, they just don't know any better. I saw a car commercial once when I was really little, it convinced me real quick that the car was super awesome with cool gadgets and features, but once I knew that companies just try to fool you into thinking its super awesome so they can make money, I knew better than to believe commercials. You can't just act like showing a kid a coke commercial is gonna make them drink more coke. First, you gotta tell them why companies have commercials in the first place. Then, you gonna tell them why soda isn't healthy. Don't assume kids are all idiots who can be so easily manipulated. There are a lot of smart children out there, but no one has told them that coke and mcdonalds is unhealthy so they have no way of knowing! Besides, kids don't even have the money to buy coke, or happy meals. The only way a kid is gonna end up consuming a whole bunch of junk food is if someone gives it to them. Companies should be allowed to market their products. The problem isn't some dumb advertisements. The problem is the lack of education and the fact that people don't have a whole lot of time and money. Its cheap and quick to get fast food. Not everyone has the time and money to get better food. They eat unhealthy because its all they can afford, or because they don't know how to eat healthy, NOT because Ronald convinced them to. Instead of telling people that they can't advertise their product, how about focusing on teaching kids how to make healthy snacks and how often to brush their teeth? Instead of hiding products from kids, how about you educate them about the products?

[@explosu]

Well said! The sheer degree of control over our perception of honesty that advertisement presents is still somewhat alarming, even for people that have been brought up as well as you - for your car commercial, for example, your parents probably were around to tell you how you were being manipulated. That isn't always possible. If they don't have someone around to oppose a statement, and they're out of practice doing it for themselves, people tend to accept an idea or situation as fact. Despite all evidence that businesses don't care anything about their health, people still trust McDonalds. The commercials they put out make everyone seem so happy to eat McDonalds! ("I'm lovin' it!" in dozens of different languages on their food wrappers - bonus points for appearing culturally sensitive and inclusive in their brainwashing :D)

[@janithdemel2382]

The output of this presentation helped me to get a great idea to make my college presentation perfectly. Additionally, the idea shared by the presenter strongly made my mind to go against for negativity of advertising that affects our children.

[@julianchosun]

This is one of the most important TED talks I've ever heard, and I'll be promoting it to the maximum extent. Given the current push for the TPPA which aims to give corporations even MORE power, we're facing ever increasing problems - problems, not just issues - as raised in this talk, and others too. I like Anna's underlining and highlighting of the importance of the disproportionate power of the western corporation; it's life or death, and a disgusting indictment of our "civilized" societies.

[@mollykyb1]

It's true that her point is compelling and important without making it personal. Unfortunately, not everyone is as able to see/feel that, and her strategy of trying to make it personal for those who don't already get it is a good one.

[@awakened2571]

Anna.... I HAVE TO SAY I AM BLOWN AWAY!!! This is the first youtube channel I have ever subscribed to. YOU ARE AN AMAZING SPEAKER!!! I AM 42 AND I DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN BUT I KNOW FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY SOUL THAT I WILL LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE WORKING TOWARDS OPENING PEOPLE'S EYES TO THE ATROCITIES OF WHAT THE FDA AND THE PHARMACOLOGICAL INDUSTRY IS DOING TO THE WORLD!!!! THANK YOU!!!

[@nmo375]

caps lock

[@katimuri]

When my girl attended a public school in DC, we the parents were bombarded by the school, which compelled us to bring Box Tops points. They needed millions of points to get a few hundred dollars. When a parent (obese and diabetic) mentioned in a casual conversation that her son urged her to buy lots of candy so they could bring the points to help the school, I paid attention to which products offered those points. MANY were very unhealthy foods, such as Betty Crocker brownies. Perverse.

[@lisaproctor7276]

Yes exactly

[@ComprehendRealityNow]

"None of your business" Brilliant.

[@budmoore2342]

This was a very powerful video! My two daughters who are grown now, never ate much fast food as a kid. I, and my late Mother, who helped me raise them, were cooks. When we did eat out, it was at sit down restaurants, usually where we worked. Now as adults, I and my daughters shun McDonald's. We eat at Burger King, maybe twice a month, if that. They, and I, are very conscious of what we eat. Hell, my daughters eat better than I do. We don't drink much soda either.

[@forevergoingforward]

Absolutely THE BEST TED TALK EVER!

[@fanstacia1]

Great Talk Anna, thank you. I'm looking to introduce this topic to our Foodies Fest next year at our elementary school. It's not so bad in Canada, as to place ads on school buses and report cards, but it's true that marketing is unabashedly targeted to hook children early. on average, we are on 2nd and 3rd generation of convenience food cooking and most families do not know what a portion is, let alone teach them to their children. I'd love to speak with you personally if possible. :)

[@brianlarson784]

Within the first minute I was like "really? I remember my 5 year old niece asking me if dora was stupid and "How can she not notice a mountain right behind her?!"

[@bustermewy]

Smart kid

[@lynnshort3677]

I don't know about that. I feel really well informed by this talk. She had some great examples as to why we should not trust corporate giants who's only interests are increasing profits.

[@NellieDeutsch]

Parental modeling is strong, but marketing on the media is stronger.

[@stephane5294]

I like the FINALE words!

[@mollykyb1]

That's absolutely true. And that's the problem. Their main goal is completely at odds with public health. They shift the cost of their business onto the public, which pays in lost productivity, lost human capital, suffering, and medical costs. It's socializing the risk in their business model, while keeping their profits private. And it's Wrong.

[@theitaliancookingclasscom]

Thank you Anna for your insight and knowledge. Love your final quotes!

[@theitaliancookingclasscom]

Feed your children well! Don`t leave it up to anyone else! This is the crucial message! For know body cares more about your children than you do!

[@KarineCharlebois]

One of the problem lies in the fact that this lack of education in good food, and temptation by food companies to eat the junk, has been happening for a few generations (said brand loyalty due to early age marketing), which means there are a lot of parents who have no idea how to do things better. Many don't know how to cook and depend on the reliability of the processed food you just pop in the oven, or the drive-thru. And they feel powerless to change things because they don't have the tools.

[@WeaponChest]

I love it! This is an inspirational message that all parents need to hear. Very empowering. Thanks.

[@AidenIsLove]

Here's an idea. DVR your kid's shows and teach them how to skip through commercials. McDonald's, Coke, and other fast food marketing really doesn't care about feeding your kids. They want you to bring your kids so that now you are going to buy something for yourself as well. Getting one kid in the store will automatically get a minimum of 2 people in the store and they make way more money from french fries and soft drinks that the adult will most likely buy.

[@paperclip360]

Or just teach a kid whats healthy and what's unhealthy. You can't hide things from kids forever. Just educate them so they know how to respond when offered unhealthy things.

[@AidenIsLove]

That doesn't make a difference though. I know what's unhealthy and I eat junk all the time.

[@paperclip360]

You can make those decisions if you want. I eat junk food too, but if a child is getting diseases because of what they are eating, its not fair. They don't know any better. That's why adults are allowed to drink and smoke, but kids aren't.

[@nudal9993]

you lazy sod!! turn off the TV and play with your kids..

[@Xian127]

No how about you tell your kids NO when they ask for stuff I want icee cream say No or you make a homemade ice cream without the all the chemicals

[@snehalmulajkar3710]

Need to take care of all the messages children get from the media.

[@Cristalitya]

I began watching this video with a bottle of coke and a pack of oreos. Now the coke's in the fridge, the oreos in the pantry and I have a banana in my hand and a glass of milk on my bedside table. That part about teeth dentures and leg braces really got to me. I already knew about the dangers of sweet drinks and such, but I really need to stop thinking they will never get to me.

[@Beate87]

You don't have to stop eating anything. You just have to have everything in moderation. (Even too much water isn't good for you.) Also, you have to burn more calories than you consume, and make sure that unhealthy foods don't dominate your diet.

[@RoryBland]

Beate Lund Tørud Except for coke and oreos ;)

[@michellehantran9232]

Beate Lund Tørud it's hard! junk food is addicting. you make it seem like it's so easy by saying "you JUST have to do this and that.." people have tried and many have failed. Many depressed and spend time in binge disorder therapy and shit. Not all have the time to incorporate all this into their schedules when the food industry is still there to f their brains over. Similar to smoking--okay, we've done a ton of educating on how deadly smoking is. Can you smoke in "moderation?" There are even warning labels on cigarette packages that specifically say "smoking can cause a slow and painful death." Some people are still ignoring it and others give in to it not because they want to but because that's just not a matter of willpower. There are more complications because our brain is complex. I think the food industries should calm their tits.

[@20LookInside12]

Watch the doc' called "Consuming Kids"... it's amazing and a little ahead of this womans speech, but still kudos to her to keep the awareness going and trying to educate people about this sick industry. It's a form of child abuse, emphasis on the "use" part.

[@erikag.ballinasnino7683]

The lady says something so true.. "leave parenting to us" my parents did that. They just have to say no, and that was it. I don't remember eat in McDonalds often. Now that I'm older I go from time to time.. but I prefer eat in a little restaurant.. sometimes is cheaper and you got better food or I cook in my home, that and I can't eat junk food like that cause I have a lot of chances to develop Diabetes.

[@dockdrumming]

I must say I agree with "market based" approaches being a better solution to the problem.

[@ashleywebbdane9765]

And as for ads on TV marketing food to kids- get Netflix. No commercials. Absolute control of what your children view.

[@simplyuyen]

This video is beneficial. It helps me to have a deep insight into marketing, especially marketing in the food industry. More importantly, the lesson that I learned from it is to be careful when choosing food brands for the children.

[@4evershalom]

Shalom, Anna. I just came across this today on FB, and I am so glad to see folks like you out there telling the truth. I personally believe that that is just one small part of the bigger lie out there, but important nonetheless. As you put it, "Our kids are none of your business!" Thank you so much for getting the word out, and sharing what you've learned. I am a Messianic Jew, and I find it very frightening that the majority of topics we thought for years were conspiracies are actually true.

[@fabricdragon]

1. the legal hoops to homeschool your kids are incredibly hard in some areas. and if you have to work full time you may not be able to homeschool. 2. not everyone can move out to a farm 3. you cannot turn off the TV when its being piped into the pediatricians or the school

[@DalilaCunha]

Funny how there's 39 dislikes for this video! They must be from the food industry that's promoting these products and simply do not like that someone is speaking the truth. MAY ALL PARENTS SEE THIS VIDEO!

[@jamescunnington1627]

I disliked the video. I agree that the food industry's ethics are terrible. But I dis agree with allot of things Anna said. She thinks laws will solve the problem. The fact is laws have many un intended consequences. it would eventually be illegal to give a child a PB & J sandwich (or even mention it around a child so as not to promote junk food to them). It sounds very noble and heroic, but in fact wont solve the problem at all. Parent and children need to be educated, not put in a bubble.

[@paperclip360]

People are too focused on hiding unhealthy foods from kids and telling them what NOT to eat. An ad shouldn't be deciding what a kid should eat. Why not teach the kid that the ad is just trying to fool them, instead of trying to hide all ads from your kids? I just believe in educating kids and parents, instead of trying to force companies to not advertise their products. Yes, I agree that some of the ads have gone a bit too far, but they're not the ones packing lunches for your kids. The parents are the ones packing the lunches and buying the meals. What we need is to educate kids and parents. Tell them what they SHOULD eat. Teach them how to make a healthy meal, how to brush their teeth, how to exercise. The trick to being healthy isn't about what you SHOULDN'T do, its about what you SHOULD.

[@shelleyblade]

This is obviously all true and well spoken and well researched but ... the truth is this speaker's children will be healthy because she teaches them to think critically, not because there aren't logos on their bus. I respect the effort, I truly do. But we SHOULDN'T stop free press and marketing is free press. We CAN teach our children to discern and to think for themselves about anything and everything! They're so wise. They'll save themselves from us. I have hope.

[@ashleywebbdane9765]

My kids are teens, but I have been through how the crap is put at a kids' eye level in stores, and how they find comfort in certain brands- just like we did. What grown up latchkey kid isn't comforted by a bowl of Kraft mac and cheese? I am trying to start a non profit to educate teenagers. Its not easy but we need to work with the kids to see the branding as lures to get them to eat foods that cause obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. I tell them- if it has an ad, don't eat it!

[@InnerWisdomHealing]

When my children were in school I was annoyed at how much candy and junk food they received. I felt it was inappropriate for teachers to be giving my children candy.

[@KarenAllmond67]

When I hear about vending machines in schools, I am outraged. They call it freedom. I didn't have any in my schools growing up and I was fine. There is no need for them.

[@avni868]

@Nathan Stremlau LOL

[@Marinko293]

@@avni868 y e s

[@Marinko293]

@UCnrjBNz1KS9oo55uuo7kQOQ hello everyone, hope you're doing very well, in todfays' video well be buildinga cabin

[@cosmicdino3358]

@@Marinko293 lol

[@julianchosun]

I'm sure one of those great groups Anna lists at the end here will gladly supply you and everyone else with all "the science" you require. These groups include: Corporate Accountability International: Challenging abuse, protecting people CCFC: Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood Center for Science in the Public Interest Food Mythbusters: The *real* story about what we eat They sound like great groups to join. I think I'll go join them all now, and start helping share out their info.

[@HotKoolAid94]

I agree with Anna Lappe in the sense that food corporations push harder to advertise to kids and teenagers and have gone to great extent in the past years to increase marketing to that population. But the job of large, powerful companies such as CocaCola and McDonald's is not to ensure the health safety of the population, but to sell their product. Period. They will put the marketing of their product before all else, because that is their main job and goal; not to ensure public health.

[@haleyja1]

post this on you face book page and share to public to get it shared to all only we can stop this madness or accept and accept the health consequences to our children

[@benedictegadron4381]

Thanks, Julian, it works now!

[@ablappe]

Thanks!

[@Gilbertr14]

Corporations succeed only where parents fail. Its our responsibility to set the boundaries. Doesn't mean you deny your child everything, but you have them realise that the don't need everything. Once they understand what are necessities, and that it doesn't make who they are, your children are far ahead of many in the world.

[@haleyja1]

sounds so simple lets just tell our children to not listen to those ads, have you met a teenager or a child that wants something and are you there at their schools all the time to educate them when they read the propaganda and get excited and want it you can't be everywhere so you need to stand up and stop the brainwashing of our children in places where they should be protected from this like their schools and buses

[@paperclip360]

James H Kids can't get brainwashed so easily. It might seem like it because they are easily fooled, but the reason they can be fooled into getting excited over something by a 30 second ad is because they don't realize that the point of an ad is to make someone want to buy their product. The point of the ad is to make money, not help you know about the coolest thing ever. Kids can't possibly know that until you explain it to them! But kids aren't complete idiots! There's just so much about the world they don't understand yet. If you just explain those things to them, then the next time they see an ad for some cool toy or drink or meal, they'll know that its just some company trying to fool them into giving them more money. Besides, kids aren't the ones paying those companies for stuff they saw on television. The parents have the money, not the kids. There are reasons why parents are buying products that make their kids sick and its not because of some dumb commercial.

[@citroenboter]

Hm. I'm only 15 years old, and I've never been that influenced by all those commercials. I do know what she is talking about, because I see it more and more, every day. What bothers me, is that kids don't seem to know what all those snacks can do to their body.

[@jpsteinberg4870]

WONDERFUL TALK!

[@frothquaffer]

Part of the solution is to do what i did: our house does NOT have TV. we got rid of it almost 6 years ago. So our kids, at least, do not face that barrage of commercials on TV any more.

[@sarahyuster]

In no way does she "need" to use the example of a loved child. Her research and breadth of knowledge is quite enough.

[@ashleywebbdane9765]

Having two teenage kids, I can tell you that trying to promote healthy eating only goes so far, and my kids are actually pretty good. They are aware of the fact that McNuggets are an atrocious paste of ammonia drenched chicken parts ground up, and GMOs, and how they are branded to from birth-everything is geared towards these kids, making it SALTY or SUGARY or SPICY are the three things that will get any teenager by the short and curlies.

[@newty82]

here's a market solution...i generally prefer market based solutions because a profit making business can sustain itself much more easily than "outrage & moral" protests, changing laws and other such solutions mentioned. Build a healthy diet and food business with a sustainable competitive advantage...and you will see your message sustained just like the companies you are criticising here

[@wesll]

Imagining a child was kind of the point, because her talk was dealing with advertising to children.

[@hdewijze]

Hi Anna, please have a look at Mark's doco: the corporation. From machbar here at KZbin. This doco relates to what you are saying, but can inform your future approach. Harri .

[@psiklops71]

enough said Dad Allegedly Characterized as 'Unfit' for Refusing to Feed His Son McDonald's 13 hrs ago

[@samuellerman-hahn650]

It's not just Dora and Shrek on soda cans we need to talk about. We need to talk about sports stars endorsing chains like McDonalds and Burger King we need to to crack down on.

[@youralchemy_]

Such a good closing line!

[@galenthrope]

Well said!

[@elidania84]

Wow, Wow & Wow! Informing and Powerful!

[@muhammadfaizan1114]

and the thing is situation is same even after 9 years

[@IwshIcldstrtover]

The problem isn't the availability of "junk" food. The problem is that parents allow their brats to sit on the computer, sit in front of the TV, sit and text their friends, and sit, sit, sit! If anyone needs to wake up, it's the parents who aren't making their kids get off their fat asses and play outside like we did when I was a kid! We had the same things available to us when I was a kid growing up in the 60's, but we didn't have an obesity problem because kids went outside and played and ran, and rode bikes, and all kinds of exercise! Its as stupid as blaming guns for killing people. The food doesn't kill you, its the lack of activity in your life that does!

[@Silverbleedy]

Amen!

[@x-player-xx-player-x8763]

Bigmac is the best sheesh

[@jayyewm.d.2853]

worst of bad parenting at play. Take responsibility for your own lives.

[@geezerbill]

I'm not sure how she's getting "50,000 cans". I can't find the item she's talking about, but a similar "K-5 PE Essentials Pack" is now going for 23,044 points. A 24-pack gets you 20 points, so that works out to about 27,650 cans. Still a lot, but not 50,000. If you stuck to 20-oz bottles (3 points each), then it works out to around 7,680 bottles. I don't think that's too impossible of a number to get, especially if students are already buying these bottles every day.

[@geezerbill]

Thanks for clarifying. I'm glad I spend my rewards points on myself and not philanthropy!

[@ruizcardenascarlos]

completely agree!!!!

[@belldanime]

While it's true that there must be responsibility, there's only so much a parent can do to prevent a 2 billion dollar advertising industry from influencing your kids. Add to that the vast amount of misinformation out there, or cultural influences, and that makes it even harder for parents to know how right or wrong their decisions are.

[@vijayakumarimathavan7601]

One issue is that this lack of knowledge in proper eating, as well as food company pressure to eat junk, has been going on for a few generations, which means there are a lot of parents who have no idea how to do things better. Many people do not know how to cook and depend on the constancy of processed foods or drive-thrus. And they are helpless to change things because they lack the necessary tools. Vijayakumari Mathavan SEU224

[@ablappe]

I would link the article I'm referring to but KZbin doesn't allow links. It should be able to be found easily, posted on 2/9/12: Should the First Amendment protect the marketing of junk foods to kids?

[@4nciite]

If someone really genuinely wants to do something than they should lobby for a huge reduction in health food costs, this would lead to less interest in junk food and better serve everyone else, after all even if you eliminate junk food you still have over priced health food that nobody is going to buy regardless. Going after Coke, McDonalds is merely treating the symptoms and not the disease which is the health food industry.

[@emerickscott]

I'm 32 and not clueless, but thanks for A) presuming you know me and what I read, and B) insulting the person you are trying to have a conversation with. Except that's not what you're doing - you don't want to dicuss. You're trying to talk at me and have an argument from authority. Good day.

[@lillileilanimama]

A wonderful video. I think advertising to children should be banned. Not just food, but toys and clothing. Wouldn't life be much simpler and less stressful for childhood?

[@jeniferdivine]

the figure of 4,000 or so ads/year seems very low; they see more than 20 ads in 1 hour of watching TV- and that right there is 7,000 ads/year

[@みかん-v4y2c]

I want translate for Japanese!!!!! アメリカの肥満問題について調べてて、この動画にたどり着きました。 日本語訳が欲しいです！！どなたかお願いいたします…。

[@clydeyello]

True; but that only makes it worse to me. It was totally uncalled for, and unneeded, and it managed to make me antagonize the speaker. It's almost like when someone patronizes you: what they say may be right, but you'll hate them nevertheless because of HOW they're saying it. I'm sorry if I came off as disagreeing with what she said - I don't. What food companies are doing is frightening. And I don't need to think about a children I love to agree with that.

[@JasonHurley]

I don't think I can go as far as saying I have misophonia, but it certainly drives me nuts. It is hard to concentrate on what she's saying because she keeps doing that!

[@TheUsername55555100]

Doing what?

[@andreadesmocedici]

Self restrain, that's the answer. You can eat junk food but not too much. We cannot always blame the junk food industries. There more than a thousands employees working on that this industry. We cannot easily pull the plug, and left them unemployed. But, I am not saying this to cover them up. They (junk food industries) have to come with healthy menu or less hazard food. Besides, if people get sick, they cannot make a money and buy those food.

[@diegolucero8158]

brillante!!!

[@Elliot88088]

Watching this for ELA where’s everyone at mount rose

[@emerickscott]

fruits have fructose, and sugar is sugar. the difference is that fruit has other good things in it for you.

[@galenthrope]

Yes, of course. People who don't want their children to become corporate junkies are pure evil.

[@alazarealazare]

1. And, if you can't afford the healthy NON subsidized options, what then? 2. The NSA, et al have proven that you CAN'T opt out. Why should we have to avoid the Internet to not have adverts jammed down the throats of our children?! 3. When you were in school, how much time was devoted to nutrition? When was the last time your Doctor said "You're sick? What are you eating, and more what you're NOT eating." NEVER! We live in a society that that focuses on treating the symptom, rarely the cause.

[@brianlarson784]

Yet no parent will ever blame themselves for setting their kids in front of the TV rather than spending time outside. I know they say its impossible to avoid. But its not that hard to teach their kids how companies con them. Really it isn't that hard especially after your kid gets that first crappy cereal box toy after being convinced by a commercial "Its so cool"

[@Haz031]

Its more than just personal responsibility kids are influenced by many different factors outside of the home via friends, school cafeterias and even sporting events, billionaires dont need a pass to exploit children's naivete.

[@Amber-sc9jp]

Kids don't have the ability to reason or understand logic until it's too late. You think a 3 year old is gonna understand a lecture on marketing tactics?

[@newty82]

there was a TEDx event in China 2 years ago...i recall that it was a mild disaster. Increase the number of TED events and the general quality will dilute. Ms Lappe's talk was informative; I just didn't think it was that good because she just didn't cover the possibility and existence of a more permanent solution. In fact, these businesses exist and I think stand a good chance of promoting the message she wants into perpetuity.

[@patientzerobeat]

Brilliant! Google: "You Might Want To Put The Brakes On Your Next Trip To The Fast Food Drive-Through." to see another one in the same spirit, which could be even better.

[@katimuri]

Well, I hope those families are not drinking all that soda. It is really scarry.

[@makeasy.english]

I am from Brazil and I stunned to seehow much Amecans expect the GOVERNMENT to do something for their children. McDonalds offered your kid a discount? Ok, don't take your kid there. Go cook some healthy food. The truth is most PARENTS don't really care about what they themselves are eating, they go to McDonalds witht their kids. The mindset behind outsourcing your responsability leads to a Big Brother watching over what is or not good enough to be adversited.

[@belldanime]

It's not about restricting what the rest want to eat, we're not saying McDonald's should be against the law. Fuck, I eat there occasionally myself. It's about the freedom of choosing what to even think about. I want to go through my day without having my attention constantly directed to ads by outside influences that feed me misinformation and try to con me into wanting something. Kids are especially vulnerable and much more easily influenced, marketing junk food to them is downright evil.

[@vaishnavisaravanan1080]

VAISHNAVI SARAVANAN_SEU224 I loved the way she explained in this video about food marketing to children. In this video, she clearly explains about how food industries brainwash or influence kids into buying their products that is high in sugar intake, salt and many more. Food industries such as mentioned above Mcdonald advertise their products through children like giving out happy meals with their favourite toys and as she said children's attraction towards their favourite cartoon characters makes them pester their parents to get those leaving the parents with no choice but to indulge in it. However, the side effects on children are quite severe due to the consumption of fast foods & unhealthy food that are promoted through schools and many more. This affects our future generation in terms of health. Few suggestions were given by Anna to overcome this issue such as having campaigns, banning food industries adverstiments in school magazines, buses and so on. Parents should be more cautious before buying any food a child asks for because this affects their child not the food industries. I loved a suggestion she made about how healthy food should be promoted to children in this manner and I do hope it happens in the future.

[@sixstringedthing]

I don't think Anna is disputing that in any way. What she's objecting to is the volume of trashfood advertising that's being directed at kids who don't know better, and the ever more insidious methods that food companies are using to get it in front of them. Kids and teens have a fair bit of buying power these days, either through pester power or their own incomes. I do believe that parents who give in to pestering/convenience are their own worst enemies but then, I don't have kids. ;)

[@alexeisamarenko]

my question would be what right do you have to choose what children eat or do, its their lives and they should be able to live them as they wish. if you choose not to eat some foods that is your choice but if your child wishes to eat something do you really have any right to refuse them

[@waggabu]

Are we talking about marketing or food quality? It sounds like she says that marketing is a problem because of the obesity epidemic, but advertising healthy foods would have the opposite effect. Are we being pro-child or just anti-corporate?

[@SaySababa]

sounds good. now i want a big mac

[@brianlarson784]

How is this alarming? by 5th grade I knew what was going on and so did all my friends. But I guess kids aren't supposed to like or get hooked to anything?

[@MrCoolisimo]

i dont feel like we need to tear down the fast food industry to stop kids from eating into obesity, killing their teeth, stopping cancer, etc. mcdonalds isnt doing any wrong by selling their product or advertising it to an audience who is likely to respond to it. the main problem is the lack of discipline parents have and lack of discipline kids are taught to stay healthy.

[@KrisMayeaux]

Ban on advertising? Moratorium on fast food franchises!! More and more of precious freedoms going down the drain due to people like her trying to pass laws to outlaw french fries! If she can't say no to her child's pestering for a big mac, just outlaw the big mac! How ridiculous! This is an assault against our freedom of speech and the freedom to eat what we choose! Yet, those on food stamps purchase cookies, cakes, soda, potato chips, candy all at taxpayer expense! Let's restrict that first!

[@galenthrope]

But the SOURCE of the red meat has changed. It comes from animals raised in unnatural conditions; having been given antibiotics and eating genetically modified , pesticide-ridden crops. We haven't been eating THAT for thousands of years. That's brand spanking new.

[@benedictegadron4381]

I couldn't watch the video. It got interrupted continuously. I then watched other ones, just to make sure it wasn't my computer. Has anybody else experienced that problem? I don't want to sound paranoid but is it possible technically to prevent a video to buffer correctly? I really want to see and hear this!

[@nurulamrina6452]

Nurul Amrina Binti Mohd Rosli_SEU224 I can conclude that each snack and fast food firm is quite deliberate about how it markets to kids. This is so because Disney and cartoon series-inspired marketing frequently has an impact on children. According to the speaker, a Coca-Cola corporation sells kids' favourite presents by gathering bottle tops. The solution advised by the speaker to prevent children from consuming unhealthy food is to run a campaign with the collaboration of the school by cooking burgers using veggies and it turns out that this has caused children's nutrition to become healthier and more nutritious.

[@jayfuerstenberg3341]

I never take my son to McDonalds any more. I feel guilty for having taken him there before. All the GM potatoes they use in their french fries can't be good.

[@LoveGuruBlaire]

They should be ashamed of themselves. There should be laws banning the way they are marketing... but the govt is in bed with them, so there you go.

[@Amber-sc9jp]

I highly doubt the government is "in bed with them". They regulated tobacco in children's media and advertising, they can do the same with food marketing. There just needs to be enough public backlash.

[@jayyewm.d.2853]

I think we clearly see with the overturning of Bloomberg's heavy-handed, asinine, "big soda law" that it is foolish to try and legislate or regulate how people raise their children. Take some personal responsibility for your lives, and the lives of your loved ones.

[@nhprman]

In a capitalist society, corporations have every right to promote their products and develop lifelong brand loyalties. McDonalds isn't health food, nor is it irresponsibly marketed that way. It's "comfort" food, not meant to be a daily meal (although they've responded to pressure from parents' concerns by including Apples, salads & yogurts, just as Burger King & others have done, so there IS choice.) The spokeswoman appears at times to be just angry about Capitalism's existence.

[@kelvinderjitkaur2597]

Kelvinderjit Kaur SEU224 very good video and very informative about marketing food to children. However,I feel it's the parents responsibility to take care of their child and set the boundaries. We should let them watch tv to only kid's shows so that they won't be influenced by commercials. Parents should take the responsibility and be strict about this so that it will train kids from small and lastly I think advertising to children should be banned. Not just food but about toys and clothing