The European Commission has warned fast food companies to stop advertising junk food to children and suggests the industry self-regulate itself or face legislation which would limit advertising. Along with America, Europe is getting fat. A recent study predicts 50 percent of British children will be obese by 2020. In Southern Europe, one in three kids are clinically obese, 36 percent of Italian nine year old are overweight and 27 percent of Spanich children are deemed overweight.
Australia has dubbed its obese kids Generation O. Writing in Ad Age, Executive Editor Jonah Bloom says the obesity scare is blown out of proportion and food giants are not entirely to blame.
UPDATE: Association of National Advertiser CEO Bob Liodice wrote an editorial in today’s Ad Age arguing the recent issuance of the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s “Guidelines for Responsible Food Marketing to Children” is an infringement on free speech. He posted the editorial on his weblog.
