CCFC and Florida Parents Frown at the Happy Meal

Florida parents, working with Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), were successful in removing report card envelopes adorned with Ronald McDonald promising a free Happy Meal to students with good grades, behavior, or attendance from Seminole County schools. The issue was reported in December by the Orlando Sentinel and CCFC’s success was reported this week in the New York Times.

Strategic Alliance would like to congratulate CCFC for their vigilance and hard work in helping to protect children from unhealthy food marketing.

In addition to applauding this success, we encourage all Rapid Responders to continuously monitor local newspapers and respond to issues of concern pertaining to the marketing to children in particular. The Strategic Alliance has issued the following recommendations for the food and beverage industry:

• Provide healthy food and drinks as the standard in all children’s meals and on children’s menus.
• Competitively price healthy foods so they are as affordable, if not more affordable, than less healthful options.
• Make healthy foods widely available in all children’s environments (preschools, schools and after school programs), workplaces, and all neighborhoods.
• Eliminate all marketing and advertising of unhealthy food and beverage products to children and youth.
• Support (and do not oppose) policies designed to bring healthier foods and beverages to schools, workplaces, healthcare settings, and neighborhoods.

We welcome you to share any letters or op-eds that get published with the rest of the Strategic Alliance membership by sending them to sana@preventioninstitute.org

WHAT IS THE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE?

The Strategic Alliance is reframing the debate on nutrition and physical activity away from a focus on individual choice and lifestyle towards one of environment and corporate and government responsibility. Current Steering Committee members are: California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program (CANFit), California Center for Public Health Advocacy, California Food Policy Advocates, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, California Parks and Recreation Society, California Project LEAN, California WIC Association, Child Care Food Program Roundtable, Latino Health Access, Partnership for the Public's Health, Prevention Institute, Samuels & Associates and YMCA of the East Bay.

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER

The Strategic Alliance is currently engaged in building a broad and diverse statewide membership. To join or for more information, please visit us on the Web, www.eatbettermovemore.org, or contact Sana Chehimi at 510.444.7738 or Sana@preventioninstitute.org. And even if you're already a member, please forward this message on to your colleagues so we can continue to strengthen our coalition. Thank you!

The Strategic Alliance is reframing the debate on nutrition and physical activity--from a focus solely on individual choice and lifestyle, towards one of environmental influences and corporate and government responsibility.

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