September 19, 2006

 

Contact:  Josh Golin (617.278.4172; jgolin@jbcc.harvard.edu)       

 

For immediate release

 

 

Statement of CCFC’s Dr. Susan Linn on “A National Survey of the Types and Extent of the Marketing of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value in Schools.”

 

This report is required reading for anyone concerned about childhood obesity or the commercialization of our schools.  It clearly demonstrates the extent to which schoolchildren of all ages are targeted by junk food marketing.  By granting marketers access to students, schools undermine their own efforts to educate children about health and nutrition and implicitly endorse the consumption of foods and beverages that may be detrimental to children’s health.

 

Even more important, the report punctures the myth that advertising revenues are needed to finance needed school programs and activities.  Of the schools that accept corporate advertising, most (68%) receive no income.  And 88% of all schools report that no programs or activities would be reduced if junk food advertising in schools were prohibited.

 

Since marketers are the only ones benefiting from in-school ads and advertising is a factor in childhood obesity, we need to stop allowing children to be targets for junk food marketing in schools. 

 

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood is a national coalition of health care professionals, educators, advocacy groups and concerned parents who counter the harmful effects of marketing to children through action, advocacy, education, research, and collaboration among organizations and individuals who care about children. CCFC supports the rights of children to grow up – and the rights of parents to raise them – without being undermined by rampant consumerism. For more information, please visit: www.commercialfreechildhood.org.