Good point…why are we paying to advertise junk food?
Kucinich Pushes To End Tax Subsidies For Junk Food Advertising
As First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to the NAACP convention in Kansas City about childhood obesity Monday, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) continued his work behind the scenes to stem junk food advertising to kids. A new bill introduced by Kucinich could raise billions of dollars in revenue to fund child nutrition and anti-obesity initiatives by preventing companies from writing off advertising of junk food targeted at kids.
Taxpayers are effectively subsidizing the spread of the obesity epidemic, Kucinich says, since under current federal law marketing expenses for the junk- and fast-food industries are tax-deductible.
As much as 50 percent of all television advertising during children’s programs is dedicated to food and the vast majority of these advertisements are for junk food, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The data showed that of over 8,000 ads aired during children’s shows, zero advertised fresh fruits or vegetables.</em>
This should be a no-brainer. The fast/junk food industry is immensely profitable, which begs the question, why would we subsidize it at all? Free market my HFCS filled ass.
