Marketing Food to Children and Adolescents - Federal Trade ...

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Endnotes
122. This labeling currently appears on all packages of Big G ready-to-eat cereals, and will appear on all cereals
by December 2008. See 2007 Forum Transcript at 70. Previously, the company used a different labeling system
called the “Goodness Corner.”
123. Kellogg’s previously has used a “Best to You” banner in the top right corner of its cereals to convey nutrition
information such as “good source of fiber” or “low fat” but is replacing that banner with “Nutrition at a
Glance” on ready-to-eat cereals.
124. For example, an icon might indicate “25% of daily grains” or “30% of daily vegetables.” The labeling will
appear only on products containing a meaningful amount of at least one key food group. See Chris Jones,
ConAgra Launches ‘Easier’ Version of MyPyramid Nutrition Labeling Scheme, Food Navigator.com USA,
Feb. 21, 2008, www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=83446 (last visited July 10, 2008). ConAgra
has stated that the labels will appear on more than 700 different products. See id.
125. One company that uses nutrition information labeling has expressed the concern that consumers may interpret
“better for you” icons as license to eat all they want of that product, and that some of the products bearing
such icons may, in fact, have little nutritional benefit. See 2007 Forum Transcript at 69-70 (presentation
by Christina L. Shea, General Mills).
126. The company does make nutrition information about its products available in others ways that consumers can
access before purchase, including in stores, and online in the form of icons and bar charts, although not on its
menu boards.
127. Five categories are excepted: bottled water, alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, and spices. See Hannaford,
What is Guiding Stars?, www.hannaford.com/Contents/Healthy_Living/Guiding_Stars/index.shtml (last
visited July 10, 2008). The stars earned by a product (if any) are displayed on the shelves with the product’s
price information. See Anne Underwood, Three-Star Snacks in Aisle Five, Newsweek, Nov. 12, 2007, at 20.
128. The specific criteria are not publicly available but are based on USDA’s nutrient database and guidelines. See
Hannaford, FAQs, www.hannaford.com/Contents/Healthy_Living/Guiding_Stars/faqs.shtml (last visited July
10, 2008); Chain Uses Stars to Rate Food for Nutrition, Associated Press, Sept. 7, 2006, available at
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14715344/.
129. See Matthew Shulman, Nutritional Labeling Gets More Sophisticated; Supermarkets Are Deploying New
Nutrition-Rating Systems to Help Shoppers Decide What Goes in the Cart, U.S. News & World Rep., Mar.
14, 2008, available at http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/living-well-usn/2008/03/14/nutritional-labeling-gets-more-sophisticated.html.
130. See id.
131. Research conducted by some companies suggests that package claims highlighting the nutritional attributes
of the product – such as “100 calories,” “whole grain cereals,” and “zero grams trans fats” – are more effective
with adults than teenagers. In a similar vein, research by one beverage company suggested that diet soft
drinks are not popular with teenagers, in part because diet sodas are associated with dieting.
132. Competitive foods are items offered for sale in schools outside of the School (Reimbursable) Meal Program
or entrees sold as part of the a la carte program. Examples include snacks, desserts, and side items available
in vending machines, a la carte lines, school stores, and through fundraisers. See Alliance for a Healthier
Generation, School Snack Foods, www.healthiergeneration.org/companies.aspx?id=1546&ekmensel=1ef024
51_40_118_btnlink (last visited July 10, 2008).
133. The Committee recommended generally that any foods made available “should consist of nutritious fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, and nonfat or low-fat milk and dairy products, consistent with the 2005 Dietary
Guidelines for Americans. . . .” Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, Report Brief: Nutrition
Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way Toward Healthier Youth 1-2 (2007). The standards for
foods include limitations on total calories, calories from fat, calories from saturated fat, trans fat, calories
from sugar, and sodium. Beverages would be limited to plain water (without flavoring, additives, or carbon-