The current lifestyle of children of developed countries is centered on internet, television and fast food. The tempting ads on junk foods and soft drinks have made children switch their eating habit from healthy nutritional fresh fruits and vegetables to burgers, french-fries, Cokes and Pepsis. The result is alarming rise in juvenile obesity.
In a welcome move, food-makers in Europe have voluntarily agreed to remove advertisements of foods and beverages on the televisions, web sites and print media that target children below 12 years of age. Only ads of products that meet specific nutritional requirements will have children as their target audience. From 2008 Coca-Cola, Groupe Danone, Burger King, General Mills, Kellogg, Kraft Foods, Mars, Nestles, PepsiCo, Ferrero and Unilever will change their advertisement policy.
Recently European Union had urged the food industry to use commercial communications to support children and parents to make the right nutritional choice. Choice of high calorie low nutritional food is the main reason of obesity related diseases in children. Diabetes and fatty liver diseases have assumed life-threatening proportion among children. The high salt content in the processed foods is responsible for raising blood pressure and associated problems among children. Fresh fruit juices and plain drinking water have been replaced by artificial drinks. The chemicals nitrates used as preservatives to maintain the fresh look of processed foods have been found to be carcogenic.
It is hoped that such noble venture followed by the food industry in Europe will spread to other continents as well.
Source:iht
Image:daily mail
