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The Use Of Food And Beverage Advertising In Public Schools

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The use of food and beverage advertising in schools greatly impacts the purchasing behavior of youth. With the abundance of advertisements plastered around elementary, middle, and high schools, students believe that the foods and beverages advertised in their schools are what should be purchasing and consuming. Advertisements directed at children in schools are misleading. Children think it’s okay to eat these food and drink these beverages because they see the advertisements in a place of learning, a place where they believe whatever is taught to them is correct. During the Obama administration, food and beverage advertising was a controversial topic in regards to First Lady, Michelle Obama. Food and beverage promotion can be found almost everywhere on school grounds. Schools have food and beverage sponsors, like local restaurants and beverage companies that advertise in the lunchroom and even scoreboards in high schools (“Michelle”). According to a study completed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), “93% of marketing in schools, or $149 million, is related to beverages, and many soda companies already have started to transition their sales and advertising in schools from sugary sodas and sports drinks to their own healthier products (“Michelle”). Most people encompass the common misconception that most food marketing in schools are done through the lunch program; rather, most of food and beverage marketing is completed through athletic booster

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