Ban Food Ads?

[PhotoNut 7]

My daughter is currently working with one of our State Senators to get direct to consumer drug advertising banned. You've seen all of the commercials promising a beautiful life, followed by someone talking in a soothing voice about all of the side affects. Most of the time, we aren't even told what the drug is for.. just contact your doctor and ask about <insert drug name here>. Cigarette commercials and billboard ads were stopped years ago. Why not food commercials. Fifty percent of America is now overweight, and I think I read that 30% is obese. Yet try to watch tv without being bombarded by fast food commercials, or Betty Crocker and Pop-n-Fresh tempting you with images of your family loving you for feeding them this crap. Anyway, that's my gripe for the day. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Scroll up to vote.

[PShaw 0]

The obesity war in this country should be fought with education not legislation. I think our government should be concentrating on other issues.

That's my 2cents.

[SkyeBlu 0]

This is a bit babble'ish so I appologize now.....

I very rarely dissagree on a point in an open forum but this is something I have to completely dissagree on.

"Our government should be concentrating on other issues" What could be more important than our nations health? Each and every year the detrimental effects of the nations growing obesity is costing us BILLIONS of dollars! BILLIONS!! If we're not healthy we are not productive, we don't move forward. Take a look at the unfortunate slow downward spiral our society is on. We can blame it on our leaders, we can blame it on what ever we want. What it comes down to is WE as a society have created a "I have to have xy or z RIGHT NOW" kind of world. The bombardment of ourselves and our families by what is on billboards, tv, raido, internet, you name it, is part of what causing us to have the issues we are having as a nation. We have gotten very selfish and not in a healthy way.

I'm not asking for the government to infringe on the right to free speech by any means BUT I think like any other "potentially detrimental" substance (alcohol, cigarettes, etc) there needs to be a level of regulation. food is a "potentially detrimental" substance if used wrong. Millions of Americans die each and every year from the long term effects of living on diets that are full of Dominos pizza, McDonalds, Starbucks, and the like.

I think there is a bit of a mix needed to help our growing obesity levels in the US. I agree we ABSOLUTELY need education, where is the money going to come from? We ABSOLUTELY need to take responsibility as individuals and as a society.

One of the things I love about being human in the USA, as human beings we are inherently different, we have different oppinions and ideas. Being lucky enough to live in the US we can express our different oppinions and even stand on a mountain top and scream and yell about what ever it is we feel strongly about. Lets see if there are ways we can raise and educate the next generation (and even ourselves now) about what they put in their bodies so they don't end up where we are today because we gave into the McDonalds jingle one to many times.

Skye

[K@t 38]

One of the biggest things that sets humans apart from the rest of the mammal kingdom is our ability to make rational decisions. We should be able to control ourselves ads or no ads. It's like saying that video games prompt children to commit violent acts, or that because a man was molested as a child he will molest children when he is an adult. I don't buy it. Each and every one of us are responsible for our own actions and saying the billboard (or advertisement or whatever) made me do it is no excuse.

[dawg 0]

One of the biggest things that sets humans apart from the rest of the mammal kingdom is our ability to make rational decisions. We should be able to control ourselves ads or no ads. It's like saying that video games prompt children to commit violent acts, or that because a man was molested as a child he will molest children when he is an adult. I don't buy it. Each and every one of us are responsible for our own actions and saying the billboard (or advertisement or whatever) made me do it is no excuse.

If that were entirely true, no corporation specializing in food would bother to spend millions on marketting.

Ever time I watch TV (which is really rare) I see something that makes me think "mmm that sounds good".

I agree that we as humans should have the willpower to ignore this 'bait' but I certainly find it difficulut.

I'm not sure regulation / legislation is the right answer mind you. It certainly makes for an interesting concept though.

Never overlook the power of marketting. I'm from the UK, Growing up there was no MacDonald's in my home town, I had never eaten there. I didn't even know a town which had one.

I DID know what went on a big mac though.

and.... I WANTED one.

[S@ssen@ch 745]

I agree with Skye.

I think rather than legislate a ban on the advertisement of foods we need to mandate education. Currently, the advertising of certain food items are focused to certain populations. Whether that's children or their parents, the consumers it doesn't matter. What matters is that it's working and we're blindly going out to purchase these and similar items because they look or sound tasty. We have no idea what they're made of or what the consequences of eating these items are.

Maybe the food industry has to be forced to get on board with the drug industry and spell out any possible side effects. I don't care whether it's some boring, soothing voice that tells me this has the "potential" to contribute to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity or cancer. As long as they do it. As long as they tell me it has "x" amount of artificial ingredients, "x" % of fat, etc.

Yes, we as humans are capable of making decisions for ourselves but we are easily influenced by our senses and the pressure of our peers. We need to KNOW what we are doing and LEARN to make better decisions. Most fast food chains are making more nutritious choices available, so why do we still choose the french fries? Heck, even those frozen "healthy" meals are supposed to be questionable, with all the artificial ingredients in them. So we need some truthful education from the makers of these foods.

That's my 2 cents. Sorry for rambling.

[PhotoNut 7]

Good points on all sides. I remember when smoking ads were banned on TV. People were worried that it was taking away freedoms then as well. However, we need to remember who watches more TV than any of us. It's the kids. From the time they are old enough to realize there's something interesting going on in that strange box, they are seeing god knows how many commercials about fast foods, candy, cakes, etc. And these adds are always accompanied by someone telling the viewer that we deserve this - if our parents love us, they take us to McDonald's - good times are centered around food - mmm this is so good, it's sinful. Images of the afternoon sun streaking in through the kitchen windows, the kids arriving hom from school just as mom pulls the cookie sheet from the oven, covered in fresh baked Cookies and of course a pitcher of cold milk awaits everyone on the table. It's no wonder we all freak out if we think about taking junk food from our homes - its like telling us to deprive families of love. And advertising companies always aim this stuff at kids - do you think Ronald McDonald was created to lure adults?

Yes, we are all ultimately responsible for our own decisions. We are adults that need to make good choices for ourselves and for our families. But good lord, try to quit smoking when your spouse smokes.. try to quit drinking when you work in a bar.. and try to make good choices about food when you see hundreds of images of that cheese being stretched as the piece of pizza is being lifted from the pan. Shoot - it is hard for me here when I see people describing the foods they ate. Some of you will find it hard to read what I just wrote about food. Wow.. now I'm rambling sorry. I just feel passionately about this subject. Comorbidities of obesity have passed cancer as the number one killer in America now. In my opinion, telling a child that ice cream is bad for them isn't going to keep them from wanting it when they have hundreds of images in their heads already of happy children eating ice cream and laughing together. How can that be bad?

[NJChick 3]

I don't think they should ban commercials but for our kids sakes, I wish they would ban the junk in the vending machines at school, like soda's and yodells. They can stock it with healthy choices like pretzles, apples, nuts, etc.

[PShaw 0]

I very rarely dissagree on a point in an open forum but this is something I have to completely dissagree on.

"Our government should be concentrating on other issues" What could be more important than our nations health?

Skye

I see that you are passionate about this issue and that's cool that you disagree with me. Without turning this into a political discussion, I think if you read the paper or watched the news today you would see several things our government should be focused on that are more important than thinking up laws banning food ads. I don't disagree that education may have to be mandated, but the discussion should be about educating people about obesity not just legislation that outright bans ads for food. Once started, where does the legislation stop regarding obesity and the government's right to legislate our health? Obesity is last accepted form of discrimination. Everyone who is obese has experienced it. So when you ask the government to start legislating, you'd better be careful what you wish for.

[HunnyBun 2]

Lets ban food ads. Then ban video game ads too, and while you're at it, ban anything and everything that will negatively affect whoever might be watching. We'll be left watching barney and sesame street, because everything else is always going to offend someone. And then they are going to cancel barney too, because there are three times more white kids on the show than there is black.

While I personally think that people can be influenced by advertisement, lets not forget that our economy depends on all the media and the billions of dollars they stimulate through advertisement. America is one of the best countires to live in. Freedom and opportunity does come with a price though.

[dawg 0]

Banning anything is always a touchy subject. Prohibition is a fine example.

I personally see most commercials as little more than legalized drug pushing, and thats not product specific. Whether its food, toys, pharmaceuticals - the message is simple:

"Your life will be better with Product X in it".

There is freedom, and then there is freedom to such an extend whereby it infringes on someone elses civil liberties.

I think there should be some legislature. Just like pharmaceuticals that must state harmful side effects, I think there's no harm in forcing other industries to add such disclaimers to their products. "Warning, eating this burger may contribute to high blood pressure, weight gain, extremely high cholestorol and premature death."

I think the little ones might be less inclined to beg for candy, if that was on every commercial.

I think it is practically a crime that food in schools is horrific, however parents, we can raises your voices at various stages and campaign to have the stuff removed from the schools.

There's some additiona cents for ya.

[PhotoNut 7]

Just out of curiosity, would those of you who oppose banning fast food commercials, vote to unban cigarette commercials?

[pugmum 0]

Interesting topic! At first I was like, no, that's a freedom of speech issue, but when I got to thinking about it, it seems (and I do not have human children myself so I'm not speaking from experience), but isn't it our role to protect children? I would only guess that protecting children from obesity--and all the problems with it--would be to ban advertising that sends the message that eating at McDonald's is a healthy thing to do. It really could be rated against smoking ads...if it's all about choice. Children, though, do not have the ability to make these decisions on their own so maybe it should be regulated. I haven't seen any fast food commercials where they kids are wolfing down salads...maybe they could even offer a more balanced message...no answers here, but finding it interesting!

Kelli

[tilly 5]

companies, all companies are in the money market, not the food market, Ford isnt in the car market they are in the money market, if you see what I mean, and if these companies cant get at your cash to get you to buy "stuff" then sure as hec they will get you through your stomach.

dont know about banning the ads, cos as soon as you go into a supermarket the food is there looking wonderfully appetising etc

I think better labeling on food on the front of the pack and not in blue writing on a purple background in the tiniest font they can find would be a much better idea, so we KNOW what were giving to our kids and ourselves.

[missy4gordon 0]

Wow, I can't even believe what I'm reading. When do WE take responsibility for what we buy and eat? When I started smoking as a teenager, I certainly didn't do it because of a cartoon camel or great commercials or print ads. Who knows why we do what we do, but we have to take responsibility for it. It is an age old question and it is also what makes the world go 'round. When I eat, it is not because of a commercial but it is what I think looks delicious on the menu and that is where my control needs to take over (which I am still waiting for)!! Kids are going to want things, that is not going to change, commercials or no commercials. I grew up watching commercials and wanting everything I saw but that doesn't mean I got everything I wanted. It is a fact of life. Parents need to make good choices for them.

Let's take away the beer ads, the liquor ads, the clothing ads (because if we don't fit into the size 2 on the ad it makes us feel bad). Let's just do away with advertising, then what? Is that going to solve anything?

Oh, I continued to smoke regardless of the fact that they put warnings on the packages (I am proud to say that I have been smoke free for almost 3 years now).....I still eat at McDonalds even after I saw the documentary SUPER SIZE ME and know the statistics. CHOICES, I chose to smoke, I chose to quit. I chose to eat junk and got fat, now I have to quit that too. My sisters and parents don't have a weight problem and they are watching the same commercials I am..........