WASHINGTON, DC -- Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, today released the following statement in response to the announcement by Kellogg that it will not market food with high sugar and fat content on television and other media targeting children:
“The ‘snap, crackle, and pop’ you hear is the sound of of public health progress. I applaud Kellogg for this ‘smart start’ toward ending TV advertisements for sugary cereal and other so-called ‘junk food’ products to young children. I hope that the rest of the industry will adopt measures that, at a minimum, meet those of Kellogg’s.

“I am deeply concerned about the current unhealthy trend toward poor nutrition and childhood obesity, which the Institute of Medicine has linked to the prevalence of television advertisements for fast food, junk food, sugared cereals, and other foods wholly lacking in nutritional value. If this trend continues, our children could be the first in generations to enjoy shorter life expectancies than their parents.

“Kellogg’s voluntary commitment to adopt nutrition standards for the foods it markets to children and to place limits on its use of licensed characters and product placements is an important first step because it demonstrates that food companies can market their products to children in a socially responsible way. If the rest of the industry does not act quickly , then Congress or the Federal Communications Commission might have to take steps to safeguard kids from junk food ads during children’s television programming.”