Spot the Block

Education Campaign Encourages Healthy Eating

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Cartoon Network have launched "Spot the Block", a public education campaign to encourage "tweens," youth ages 9 to 13 to use the Nutrition Facts information on the food labels. This campaign uses online and customized public education announcements, featuring characters from the Cartoon Network's most popular programs, to encourage healthy food choice selection.

"The campaign is a simple and effective way to educate children about how to use the Nutrition Facts label," said Robert E. Brackett, director for FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "By making it easier for them to understand the label, we are helping them make quick and informed food choices that contribute to lifelong healthy eating habits. Establishing these habits in the early years can help young people stay healthy and prevent health problems in adulthood such as obesity."

"Spot the Block" features a custom interactive Web page on Cartoon Network's Web site giving children the opportunity to explore information about serving sizes, calories, and nutrient selection. It will also help them better understand the Nutrition Facts label on their favorite foods.

The campaign features two public education announcements produced by the Cartoon Network. The creative announcements include animated song and dance performances that illustrate where to look on the Nutrition Facts label to find the information it contains to aid in healthy food choices.

Since the late 1980's, adult obesity has steadily increased to the point at which more than 65 percent of all Americans are now overweight and over 30 percent are obese. Also, 15 percent of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are overweight- nearly double the rate of two decades ago. "Spot the Block" supports the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) commitment to help Americans live longer and healthier lives by reducing overweight, obesity, and poor nutrition.

In June 2006, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt identified nutrition as one of nine priorities for transforming America's health care system. The major elements of the "Spot the Block" campaign responds to this priority and are based on recommendations from both the FDA's Obesity Working Group and the federal government's 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Dietary Guidelines contain science-based advice designed to help Americans choose diets that meet nutritional requirements without exceeding caloric needs, promote health, support active lives, and reduce the risk of chronic disease.