Monday, October 06, 2003
Today, as Sesame Street was coming on our local PBS station, there were subtle advertisements for the following products: Publix Supermarkets, The Franco-American Company (Spaghetti-Os), Quaker Oatmeal, and McDonald's. Perhaps things are different for their PBSKids programming, but I thought that one of the benefits of public television was that it wasn't supported by corporations or advertisements, but by the people.
I am disheartened and disappointed by the advertising messages ... are McDonald's and SpaghettiOs healthy choices for our nation's children? REALLY?? Yes, the SpaghettiOs have added nutrients, and contain a serving each of veggie and grain, but is it really healthy? I don't have a can of it in our house (go figure), but what added ingredients are in it? Wouldn't it be better to just boil some noodles and add homemade tomato sauce? Something without added sugars and additives and food dyes? Something that has an option of being whole grain? And let us not even suggest that McDonald's is healthy for children ... I will NEVER buy that. Now Oatmeal, I have more understanding for, but still, the Quaker Oats package they show is for their mixes, that contain lots of sugars, processed foods, and other things that can't compare to cooking rolled oats and adding healthy ingredients (I like adding things like applesauce, wheat germ, ground almonds, cinnamon, and a dash of sugar or a teaspoon of honey. Parker loves it.). And Publix ... THIS is the "kids, ask your parents to shop at Publix" type of advertising, name-brand instilling so the kids will shop there as adults type of thing.
Now, I realize that PBS has had such things as Exxon's Masterpiece Theatre and the like, but it just has the name mentioned, not mini-ads. I guess I could be mistaken. And I know it doesn't bother me when advertising is directed at adults. But children?? My goodness, it seems like brain-washing to me. Excellent advertising strategy, I'm sure.
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