Submission Number: 00024 

Received: 5/4/2011 1:24:23 PM
Commenter: Tia Sharp
Organization: 
State: Oregon
Agency: Federal Trade Commission
Initiative: Preliminary Proposed Nutrition Principles to Guide Industry Self-Regulatory Efforts; Project No. P094513
Attachments: No Attachments
Submission Text
I would like you to read this excerpt from a blog written by Michelle Simon which originally appeared on Grist. "Our legal system does not allow marketers to advertise just as they wish, either to children or adults. We have consumer protection laws because marketers aren’t exactly trustworthy. From time to time, they’ve been known to stretch the truth. That’s why both at the federal and state levels, the law requires that advertisers not engage in deceptive marketing. Otherwise, they would have an unfair advantage over consumers. In other words, the law aims to provide a level playing field between the two parties. The key legal terms here are “deceptive” and “unfair.” Now, what about marketing to children? Ample science, along with statements by various professional organizations tells us that marketing to young children is both deceptive and unfair. Why? Because young children simply do not have the cognitive capacity to understand that they are being marketed to; they cannot comprehend “persuasive intent,” the linchpin of advertising. Here’s how the nation’s trade group for kids’ doctors puts it: “The American Academy of Pediatrics considers advertising directly to young children to be inherently deceptive, and exploits children under the age of 8 years.”" This quote was taken from the full context, which I accessed at: http://fooducate.com/blog/?s=illegal+to+advertise+food+to+children On May 4, 2011. Thank you for your consideration. This issue is important to the future of our nation as well as the health of our children. We must NOT under mind children's health, nor the laws in place to protect consumers, including children, from deceptive marketing.