• by David Kaplan , January 10, 2005

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is all for using any marketing technique available to target kids--as long as it's for healthy products, as the Ralph Nader-associated organization is proposing basic nutritional thresholds for determining which foods should be marketed to kids in the first place.

In its Guidelines for Responsible Food Marketing to Children, the CSPI calls on companies not to market low-nutrition drinks like soda, sports drinks, and sweetened iced tea to kids. Food companies though, could market: drinks that contain at least 50 percent fruit juice and no added caloric sweeteners; water and seltzer without added caloric sweeteners; and low-fat and fat-free milk, including flavored milks.

While a spokeswoman for the group doesn't expect the White House or marketers to "see the light" because of its report, the group is hoping to create awareness among parents--and in turn, pressure food companies and the government to initiate some reforms.

"Parents are outgunned by food companies and the toys, cartoon characters, celebrities, and psychological munition that food marketers have at their disposal," the CSPI spokeswoman said. "We're trying to balance out that equation."