Good Grief – Channel One Dumps More Junk Food Ads On Middle School Kids

September 18, 2002

Yet another junk food is being pushed on schoolchildren by Channel One. The latest addition is called Snak Stix from Kellogg’s. Brandweek magazine reported on this new sugary product in May of this year:

“Kellogg Pops Up Its Tarts

NEW YORK — Kellogg next month will extend its Pop-Tarts brand with a new Snak-Stix
version, backed by a national integrated marketing push as well as a packaging
overhaul. Snak-Stix creative will tout a “whole new attitude” in snacking to teens ages 12-17 in TV, via Leo Burnett, Chicago, that breaks Aug. 18. …Pop-Tarts Snak-Stix are frosted Pop-Tarts in candy bar-like form with cookies & creme, caramel chocolate or double chocolate fillings.”

Channel One’s history of pitching junk food to children is as dark as the double chocolate filling in a Snak Stix. Channel One executives have made themselves wealthy advertising Snickers, Twix candy bars, Hostess Cupcakes and Twinkies, and high-sugar soft drinks to children over the last five years.

American children are getting fatter. There is an obesity crisis among pre-teens and teens. Yet schools continue to show Channel One with its powerful and effective junk food commercials.

Jim Metrock said, “Unfortunately, some school officials are indifferent to the health concerns of their students. When you hand over one hour a week of school time to these marketers, you can expect the worse and with Channel One you get it.”

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