Kraft to curb children's advertising of some popular snack foods

Wednesday, January 12th 2005, 8:29 am

By: News On 6

NORTHFIELD, Ill. (AP) _ Kraft Foods plans to curb advertising of Oreos, regular Kool-Aid and other popular snack foods to children under 12 as part of an effort to encourage better eating habits.

The company, the nation's biggest food manufacturer, also said Wednesday that it would begin labeling some healthier products with a flag touting their benefits.

The new marketing program comes as food companies are facing rising criticism from some consumer groups and others that they are contributing to obesity in children.

``We're working on ways to encourage both adults and children to eat wisely by selecting more nutritionally balanced diets,'' Kraft senior vice president Lance Friedmann said in a statement.

Two years ago, Kraft had already moved to reduce the fat content in 200 products, cap portions for single-serve packaged snacks and quit marketing snacks at school.

As part of the new marketing program, a ``Sensible Solution'' label would appear on products high in nutrients such as fiber or calcium or those with low fat, sugar or sodium.

Kraft said it would quit advertising products that don't qualify for the label on cartoon shows and other shows viewed primarily by children age 6 to 11. Among those whose ads would be pulled are Oreo cookies, regular Kool-Aid and some Lunchables lunch combinations.