LONDON - Online games and social networking sites are used as a tool to promote junk food to children, even recruiting them for promotion, claims a health institution.As quoted from the Telegraph, on Thursday (30/06/2011), researchers from the International Association for the Study of Obesity warned that companies now use the internet to promote foods with high levels of fat, sugar, high salt.
social networking is successfully promote junk food to children
social networking is successfully promote junk food to children"Promotional campaign is targeted directly to children. Parents also sometimes still indifferent to this," said the International Association for the Study of Obesity.
Companies like McDonald's, Kellogg's, Haribo and Nesquik criticized for using an online campaign type for children.
Nesquik Haribou and using online games to promote their food products and beverages, while Kellogg's Krave promoting breakfast cereal chocolate to children, not adults.
"These companies are using new technology to encourage children to consume them and escape from parental supervision," said Dr Tim Lobstein, who wrote the report for the International Association for the Study of Obesity
"The result is the continuing low standards of food consumption by children," he added.
While a spokesman from The Incorporated Socienty of British Advertisers, which represents food companies, rejected criticism from the International Association for the Study of Obesity, and said that they had to reduce junk food marketing to children.
Each company has different rules in determining the age of the target consumers, as well as controls for all areas of marketing, including promotion on television, merchandise, websites, social media and internet use.
Dr Lobstein urged that every pmerintah create national and international standards to protect children's health.
