THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY COHEN, BRIGGS, CALTAGIRONE, DALEY, DeLUCA, FABRIZIO, FREEMAN, HESS, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KULA, PARKER, SCHMOTZER AND WATERS, OCTOBER 3, 2012

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, OCTOBER 3, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the new regulations proposed by the

Federal Trade Commission to restrict national food and

beverage companies from advertising unhealthy foods to

children.

WHEREAS, Since 1963, unhealthy food has been directed toward

children by television advertisements beginning with fast-food

chains; and

WHEREAS, The food industry spends more than $2 billion a year

advertising carbonated beverages, restaurant food and breakfast

cereals to children; and

WHEREAS, In 2010, the fast-food industry spent $4.2 billion

advertising on television and in newspapers and magazines; and

WHEREAS, Children are exposed to at least ten food-related

advertisements every day during the three to four hours they

spend watching television alone; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 98% of foods advertised to young

children are deemed unhealthy with high levels of fat, sugar or

sodium; and

WHEREAS, In the past decade, children's diets have consisted

of approximately 40% junk food; and

WHEREAS, The United States' childhood obesity rate has

tripled in the past three years to 17% or approximately 12.5

million American children; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, the Congress of the United States advised

the Federal Trade Commission, together with the Food and Drug

Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and

the United States Department of Agriculture, to establish an

Interagency Working Group of Federal nutrition, health and

marketing experts to alter the effect of unhealthy food on

children; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives express its

support of the new regulations proposed by the Federal Trade

Commission for the purpose of restricting national food and

beverage companies from advertising and marketing unhealthy

foods to children.