By Jim Davidson, Polsinelli Shalton Welte Suelthaus

The year 2007 will go down as a benchmark year for food manufacturing and advertising industry achievements designed to address the issue of childhood obesity in America.  Nevertheless, in spite of major leaps forward to change the nature of advertising directed at children under 12 years of age, and the introduction of a broad range of new “better for you” products, the pressure continues to mount in Washington, D.C. to adopt new regulatory restrictions or enact new legislation designed to regulate the advertising of food products.  
All this is taking place during a year in which U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin, have overseen the collaboration by a Joint Task Force on Childhood Obesity and the Media that is working to complete a comprehensive report to document the numerous programs initiated by food manufacturers, advertising organizations and the media to promote exercise and better for you foods for kids.  At the same time the report is expected to set out some future objectives for the food, media and advertising industries to tackle.
Jan 17, 2008 - 2:43:27 PM

By Tim Buchholz, POPAI

The first big retail cold and flu season since the Combat Meth Act of 2005 was enacted is in full swing. The Combat Meth Act is federal legislation that was signed into law and implemented in September of 2006. As a result, manufacturers and retailers of many cold, allergy and cough remedy products have had to adjust their operations and marketing efforts to comply with new regulations.
Apr 11, 2007 - 8:21:26 PM

Rising rates of obesity in children present the United States and countries around the globe with an international challenge to adopt policies and programs designed to help children and their parents to eat better and to adopt healthier lifestyles.
Dec 21, 2006 - 4:28:18 PM

A look at recent initiatives from the Alliance for American Advertising Coalition, from Dan Jaffe, Executive VP Government Relations, Association of National Advertisers. The Alliance was created to help unify the voice of the food manufacturing and food advertising industries during the current public debate over food marketing and childhood obesity.

Oct 13, 2006 - 2:57:05 PM