Toon Zone Talkback - National Academy of Sciences Criticizes Toons Marketing Junk Food

[Duke]

This is the talkback thread for National Academy of Sciences Criticizes Toons Marketing Junk Food (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=7497).

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What is the point of doing this?

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[Chris Johnston]

They must be talking about those snacks and cereal with Spongebob or some other characters plastered all over them.

[straw_hat]

Wow and they're barely noticing this or what? They've been using cartoon characters to advertise various snack treats since forever. I guess they only mention it now because of all those "Is America Fat?" stories that are constantly on the News.

[K-S-O]

Personally, I'd blame those who produce the junk food. They taste so darn good!

[judyindisguise]

I noticed the other day at the grocery there were all these boxes of macaroni and cheese, and every one of them had a cartoon character on it! Spongebob, Shrek, FOP, Jimmy Neutron, Scooby-Doo...geez. Guess the macaroni makers think it's never too early to start clogging those arteries... :eek:

[Carolina Red]

When I was the age of those kids they talk about in these studies I was pressured by all my favorite cartoon characters too into buying their stuff. However, it was toys back then instead of junk food and stuff. I think my parents still have those Ninja Turtle figures in the attic. Today things have evolved to where food products are more marketable. You've got to eat, right? Playing with toys can come second.

[Anthonynotes]

I noticed the other day at the grocery there were all these boxes of macaroni and cheese, and every one of them had a cartoon character on it! Spongebob, Shrek, FOP, Jimmy Neutron, Scooby-Doo...geez. Guess the macaroni makers think it's never too early to start clogging those arteries... :eek:

Apparently not...

Going along this, I see that these characters are plastered all over their regular versions of their foods, instead of any of the low-calorie/low-fat versions of the foods these companies make, e.g., I've seen the FOP on kids'-size Pringles packs, but the Pringles are the regular versions instead of the lower-fat (with 1/3 less fat) versions the company also makes that costs the same price. Why they don't use the lower-fat Pringles for the kids-versions of the stuff is what I'd like to know...

[Hordesman]

There's two issues of why these companies are more appealing licensees.

1, Junk food companies have more money. According to Supersize Me, the overall budget for health food awareness commercials is equivalent to what a candy company will spend promoting a single candy bar.

2, Spongebob actually does appear in the produce aisle: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2005-07-14-obesity-usat_x.htm?POE=MONISVA
But I don't think the produce aisle offers the same kind of brand visibilty sought out for licensed products that snack foods and sugar cereals do.

That said, I still think the low point was when the TMNTurtles had Hostess pies. Man, those were good tho'/

[Mad Monkey 7]

Sugar-Bear not marketing junk food, he is marketing coolness. :anime: