Organic Grocery Chain Bans Products with Cartoon Packaging

In an effort to combat marketing to children, a Washington, D.C.-based
organic grocer has stopped stocking products whose packaging features
cartoon characters from books, movies and TV programs. According to a
MOM’s Organic Market news release, products such as Dora the Explorer
frozen soybeans will be replaced with alternatives in cartoon-free packaging.

“Marketing to children is wrong and should be illegal,” said MOM’s founder
and CEO Scott Nash. “Advertising is a shady game. It focuses on creating a
shallow emotional attachment instead of pointing out the merits of a product.
Unfortunately, it works—and young children are particularly susceptible.”

“Using beloved media characters to sell kids on a particular brand of food is
wrong, even if it’s healthy food,” said Susan Linn, Director of the Campaign for
a Commercial Free Childhood. “Children should not be trained to pick foods
based on the cartoon on the box. We congratulate MOM’s for taking this
courageous stance on behalf of families and urge other companies to follow
suit.” See MOM’s Organic Market News Release, January 15, 2013.