New rules limit junk food ads aimed at children

Eleven of the USA's biggest food and drink companies will adopt new rules to limit advertising to children under the age of 12.

The companies, including Campbell Soup Co., General Mills
Inc. and PepsiCo Inc., announced their new rules just ahead of a Federal Trade
Commission hearing that stepped up pressure on the companies to help curb the
growing child obesity problem through more responsible marketing.
FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras said the 11 companies
accounted for about two-thirds of television food ads directed to kids.
The self-imposed rules include pledges by seven companies
who will no longer use licensed characters, such as those made popular through
movies or TV shows, to advertise online or in print media unless they're
promoting their healthier products. Four other companies said they did not
advertise at all to children under 12.
McDonald's USA said it would advertise only two types of
Happy Meal to children younger than 12: one with four Chicken McNuggets, apple
dippers with caramel dip and low-fat white milk, or one with a hamburger, apple
dippers and milk. They both meet the company-set requirement of less than 600
calories, and no more than 35 percent of calories from fat, 10 percent of
calories from saturated fat or 35 percent total sugar by weight.
PepsiCo — owner of Frito-Lay and Quaker Foods and seller of
Pepsi, Tropicana, Aquafina and Gatorade drinks — said it would market only two
products to children: Baked Cheetos Cheese Flavored Snacks and Gatorade.