Katie Marx, policy associate with the Center for Science in the Public Interest discusses food marketing to children.

·28 min·2 clips

Katie Marks reveals that nearly one quarter of ads during children's TV are for food, with most failing nutrition standards.

Melinda Hemmelgarn hosts Katie Marks on Food Sleuth Radio to explore food marketing targeted at children. Marks explains her background in public health and how she became involved with CSPI's work on food policy. The discussion begins with an overview of traditional food marketing, noting that most ads during children's TV programming are for unhealthy foods like junk food and sugar-sweetened beverages. Marks reveals that CSPI found a significant increase in such ads, from 14% in 2012 to nearly one quarter recently. The conversation shifts to digital marketing, where Marks describes how platforms like Instagram and Facebook use personal data to deliver highly targeted ads to children. She emphasizes the vulnerability of children, especially those under eight who cannot understand advertising intent. Marks introduces the role of influencers, explaining that they are often paid by brands to promote products on social media, sometimes without proper disclosure. She mentions a Washington Post video featuring influencers promoting soft drinks and candy. Hemmelgarn and Marks discuss regulatory efforts, with Marks detailing the Federal Trade Commission's endorsement guides and historical attempts to regulate food marketing. She notes that in the 1970s, the FTC faced severe backlash and defunding for proposing bans on ads to young children. In 2011, an interagency working group's recommendations were blocked by Congress, leaving the U.S. reliant on voluntary industry self-regulation. Marks contrasts this with international examples, such as Chile, where restrictions on advertising high-sugar foods led to a 24% reduction in calories purchased. She also highlights state-level initiatives in the U.S., like New York's Predatory Marketing Prevention Act. The episode covers other marketing avenues, including ads on educational platforms and collaborations between food companies and games like Fortnite. Marks provides statistics on restaurant kids' meals, noting that 72% fail to meet nutrition standards. She discusses policies promoting healthy default beverages in kids' meals and encourages media literacy for children. The conversation concludes with resources from CSPI and a call to action for listeners to get involved in advocacy.

As heard by us

A clear, grounded review of the policy fights behind food marketing to children.

Food marketing to children is treated here as a matter of policy, disclosure, and accountability, with Katie Marks of the Center for Science and the Public Interest tracing how influencers, industry pressure, and regulators shape what young audiences see.

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