Is it maybe an addiction? What about an obsession? Perhaps a desire? …or simply a craving?
Whatever you consider it, many children have created this ‘affection’ for some foods and their parents have fallen in the same trap over and over again. What better way to get a parent to comply than through their children?
Companies have always considered children as a lucrative market, trying to establish and develop a desire for their product. The children then try to persuade their parents to go for their choice of things – and since it’s been presented in a ‘healthy’ manner, why would they say no?
The list of these obsessions is endless: Pepsi, Coca-cola. Sprite, Fanta, Thums-up, Happy Meals, Cap’n Crunch, Froot Loops, etc.
But what is the real deal?
Kids experience at least $1.6 billion worth of food advertising a year, where companies are eager to develop an obsession in children for their products. If the kids like it, the parents will buy it – a perfect trap for mom and dad. Now add in the thought of this being healthy for your kids. Is it really this perfect?
Nutella positions itself as a healthy breakfast option for kids being a mix of “hazelnuts, skim milk, and a hint of cocoa”, as advertised in the video. Yet, Nutella is as healthy as a Milky Way. What they are really promoting is 200 calories, 21 grams of sugar, and 11 grams of fat per two table spoons. And still, children are obsessed with this sugar bomb. And once again, parents will fall in the trap and buy the product for their children.
Nutella is not the only nutrition sham presented to children. Positioning their merchandise as healthy, companies try to target children, who – being part of a decision making process at home – in turn will influence their parents, and the products will be sold.
How perfect is this video to attract both children and parents?
Yet again, another parent falls under the trap.
References:
http://expertscolumn.com/content/unethical-food-marketing-children
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/health-foods-healthy/story?id=16680025
http://www.alternet.org/food/7-highly-disturbing-trends-junk-food-advertising-children
One reply on “The Parent Trap”
Do you think it’s fair that Nutella has been criticized for advertising to children, including health benefits, when there are so many other products that do similar marketing? For example, consider all the sugary breakfast cereals marketed to children as “A part of a balanced breakfast” – thoughts?