Disney, First Lady To Roll Out New Nutrition Guidelines
The Walt Disney Company is rolling out new nutrition initiatives on Tuesday, in an event featuring First Lady Michelle Obama. The company will announce new advertising guidelines, a reduction in sodium content in children's meals served at its theme parks, and a new healthy food logo for grocery store products-- all in the hopes of addressing one of the first lady's top concerns, childhood obesity.
Disney is set to announce “that all products advertised on its child-focused television channels, radio stations and web sites must comply with a strict new set of nutritional standards,” according to The New York Times. Disney will also roll out “what it calls a Mickey Check in grocery store aisles: Disney-licensed products that meet criteria for limited calories, saturated fat, sodium and sugar” that can be emblazoned with a Mickey-Mouse ears logo, the Times reported.
Disney’s new advertising standards are based on suggestions developed by the federal government. Disney Chairman Robert Iger told the Times the new guidelines are good for business: they’ll help strengthen Disney’s brand, and track growing market demand for healthy food options. The new advertising guidelines won't take effect until 2015 because of existing contracts with advertisers, the Times reported.
