Disney sets precedent by banning junk food ads

After American industrialist Walt Disney created the cartoon world with Mickey Mouse as the protagonist in the 1930s, it has brought happy childhoods to countless people over the decades. Disneyland theme park is still a place where many adults and children can realize their dreams. In view of its social responsibility, the company announced on the 5th US time that it will completely ban junk food advertisements starting in 2015 and significantly improve the cooking methods of amusement park restaurants, hoping to give children a healthy childhood.

Disney has announced that it will ban junk food ads from its television stations starting in 2015. (Photo/Source: Reuters)

According to Reuters, following New York State's announcement to ban stores from selling large cups of sugary (sparkling) drinks, Disney also announced on the 5th that it would follow suit and strictly prohibit its ABC TV station and Disney XD from airing "junk food advertisements" starting in 2015. In other words, as long as the products launched by food companies do not meet the minimum nutrition requirements set by experts, the Disney channel group will not grant them advertising rights. In fact, as early as 2006, Disney voluntarily banned junk food manufacturers from using the image rights of cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse to avoid misleading children into eating junk food.

A study by the Institute of Medicine pointed out that junk food is the culprit for the morbid obesity of up to one-third of children in the United States, which will seriously endanger the healthy development of the entire society. Therefore, First Lady Michelle Obama launched an action called "Let's Move", hoping that companies can take part of their social responsibility to ensure the health of the next generation of children. This move has attracted responses from food chain suppliers such as McDonald's and Wal-Mart, and Disney, with total assets of more than US$4.1 billion (NT$122.5 billion), has also publicly vowed to join the plan to jointly combat obesity and save children.

CEO Robert Iger said the company will launch a "Mickey Check label" that will be widely used on food packaging produced by partner manufacturers, provided that these foods must meet the principles of "less oil, less salt, less sugar, more fiber, and more grains." The salt content of children's meals in the park will also be reduced to 25% of the original. Although the outside world expects Disney to suffer some losses as a result, the company's top management believes that using the company's influence to awaken the American people's health awareness, a little less profit seems relatively insignificant.