• Ad Age, Tuesday, November 9, 2010 10:37 AM

Maureen Morrison reports that fast food companies are offering "canned responses" in answer to a new study by Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity that a dozen of the largest chains are marketing to youth (as young as 2) more than ever -- to the tune of $4.2 billion in 2009, to be exact.

"McDonald's remains committed to responsible marketing practices, including advertising and promotional campaigns for our youngest customers," responded Neil Golden, senior vp-CMO at McDonald's USA. "Consistent with our 2006 commitment to the Council of Better Business Bureaus' Food Pledge, 100% of our children's advertising in the U.S...." We'll leave the rest to your imagination; suffice it to say that McDonald's offers Apple Dippers and milk.

Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell offered similar reactions. And Joy Dubost, the National Restaurant Association's director of nutrition and healthy living, claimed that "the industry led the way in advocating that nutrition information be made available to consumers in chain restaurants" and said there are more nutritious choices than ever for kids.

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