Mars maker says ads targeting under-12s to stop

[The Straight Story]

Mars maker says ads targeting under-12s to stop

The maker of chocolate bars Mars and Snickers has announced it is to stop targeting advertising at the under-12s.

The new policy from Masterfoods, expected to be fully implemented by the end of the year, means the company's advertising in magazines and during television programmes for the under-12s will stop.

The group already has a policy of not advertising to children younger than six.

A spokesman for the company said: "Over the last several years, concerns have been expressed by governments and parents about the marketing of products to children.

"Mars believes it is important to listen to concerns and respond directly, in keeping with our desire to support the paramount role of parents in making purchasing decisions about foods on behalf of their children."
......

Pepsico, which sells crisps and snacks as well as soft drinks, also does not have an age limit. Kraft claims it does not target children under six and only promotes healthier options, such as fruit juices, to youngsters between six and 11.

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/0205/breaking72.htm

Did they mention their placement on store shelves?

[goclark]

1. No more Mars for me --

[acmejack]

3. Mars family among the evil eighteen!

The Eighteen richest families inn America who spent millions to defeat the estate tax to save their Billions!

http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=2182

http://www.citizen.org/documents/EstateTaxFinal.pdf

[oldlady]

2. it's not the candy, it's the chips...

in my neighborhood kids don't care so much about chocolate...but those flamin hot cheetohs...they're like crack. we've got a couple of parents who buy them in bulk and run a little street business with a 100% mark-up...sheeeit, turf wars will be next.

[TlalocW]

4. Maybe because my television is only hooked up to watch DVDs/Tapes

So I haven't watched regular television except at friends or relatives' homes, but I can't think of any commercials where candy bars were being marketed directly to under 12. The only commercials I can think of are the Snickers Really Satisfy ones, specifically the one about a sports photographer talking about how he can't stop for a meal sometimes because then someone else gets his shot so he eats a Snickers to keep away the hunger pangs and then the whole, "Give me a break/Give me a break/Break me off a piece of that Kit-Kat bar."

Oh, maybe it's the red and yellow talking M&Ms?

TlalocW