Should We Unilaterally Ban Junk Food Advertising Targetting Children?

The New York Times reports that eleven huge food companies, in the face of regulatory intervention, lawsuits, and a forthcoming government study on childhood obesity, agreed to voluntarily withdraw junk food advertising from children’s TV shows targeted at an under-12 audience.

But does it go far enough? TV is just one component of the advertising spectrum, and the industry’s move won’t apply to “family”-type shows.

Maybe we should treat treat junk food ads like cigarette ads…

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