CSPI Reaches Historic Agreement With the Kellogg Co. to Adopt Nutrition Standards For Foods Advertised to Young Children

Exciting news comes from the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

After a year and a half of negotiations, the CSPI came to an agreement with the Kellogg Company to adopt nutrition standards for the foods it advertises to young children. In announcing the agreement, CSPI hails this as "an historic commitment."

Kudos really go to CSPI for its hard work to reach this new agreement, which now means that CSPI, as well as the Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) and two Massachusetts parents, will not proceed with a previously announced lawsuit against the company. (FYI, I mentioned this pending lawsuit in my book SUGAR SHOCK! So this is the latest info that you can't currently find in my book.)

According to the new agreement with Kellogg, CSPI states, "foods advertised on media—including TV, radio, print, and third-party Web sites—that have an audience of 50 percent or more children under age 12 will have to meet new nutrition standards."

In addition, thanks to CSPI's efforts, Kellogg also agreed not to:

• "Advertise to children any foods in schools and preschools that include kids under age 12;
• "Sponsor product placements for any products in any medium primarily directed at kids under 12;
• "Use licensed characters (Shrek, SpongeBob, etc.) in mass-media advertising directed primarily to kids under 12 (for example, on the labels of food packages unless those foods meet the nutrition standards);
• "Use branded toys in connection with foods that do not meet the nutrition standards."

Watch CSPI executive director Michael Jacobson, Ph.D. discuss the settlement.