Disney bans all junk food

[Demi]

The Daily Mail
London, UK
17 October, 2006


Disney announced today it is severing all connections with junk food.

Burger and chips will soon be off the menu at its theme parks worldwide. Film and cartoon characters will no longer be used to promote salty snacks and sugary drinks.

The move by such a powerful and influential company is being hailed as a major breakthrough in the battle against obesity among children.

Out will go products such as The Incredibles Pop Tarts and Winnie The Pooh biscuits. In could be Nemo mineral water and porridge courtesy of Goldilocks. Disneyland, Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Paris will serve up vegetables and fruit juice.

The firm is also ending its 10-year $1 billion deal with McDonald's to advertise on its happy meals.

Walt Disney Corporation has come under pressure-for years in Britain to follow the lead of the BBC in banning its children's programme characters from tie-ins with junk food.

Critics say Disney characters have driven the worst forms of pester power.

The company says that its change of policy means it will only lend its name to products that meet standards for healthy eating.

In its licensing deals from 2009 Disney will in most cases refuse to link its brand to foods that get more than 30 per cent of their calories from fat, over 10 per cent from saturated fat and in excess of 10 per cent from added sugar. "Sugar things like Lucky Charms and Sugar Frosted Flakes wouldn't make it. Cheerios and Rice Krispies would said James Hill, a child nutrition expert who worked with Disney in recent months as it planned the change in policy.

But Disney's TV channels are still likely to come under fire as they will continue taking junk food ads.

The company's chief finance officer, Thomas Staggs, said more storylines would include a healthy diet and exercise, adding that Disney's new "nutrition programme", which has been worked on for 18 months, would be phased in as current contracts expired.

"Parents try to make intelligent choices, he said. "The right thing to do for our company is to provide them with those choices. Last year, Disney's largest shareholder, Steve Jobs, the head of the Pixar Animation Studio, spoke of his doubts about tie-ins with fast food products.

He said: "There is value, but there also some concerns as our society becomes more conscious of some of the implications of fast food. Earlier this year in Britain, a row erupted over proposed measures unveiled by TV watchdog Ofcom to curb ads for junk food aimed at children, including banning them before 9pm.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=410930&in_page_id=1770

[whyspers]

No way????


L

[Whoa182]

Wow that is cool!

I've noticed things to change around where I live lately, no longer the kids allowed crisps, chocolate and sweets in school. They have to take in a healthy lunch... or have the school meals. The younger kids are taking to it really well here.

[tie_guy]

Being on a diet is great but when I am on a vacation (once a year if I am lucky) I really don't want to think about it. I mean 1 or 2 weeks of carbs isn't going to kill me. So Disney can do what they want at their parks -- I will just choose to vacation somewhere else. I guess the other things are ok you should watch what you eat if you aren't on vacation.

[Angeline]

You are missing the point a bit there, I think. The significance of this move is not so much the removal of junk food from their theme parks as the dissociation of the Disney name with junk food.

Disney has a HUGE influence on kids and it's been used in the past to peddle all kinds of junk food and sugary crap.

They are ending this. And are loosing a big chunk of change in the process, I bet. This is big.

And I am pleased to see they are using the no more than 10% sugar recommended by the WHO instead of the diluted recommendation pushed by lobby groups.

Disney is a major player, this will have an impact. Can McDonald and other big corps afford to seem to care less about kids’ health than Disney?

I'm curious to see what is going to happen next.

[LilithD]

But they still name fat as the big culprit. Out will go fat and sugar. In will come starch, starch, starch!

[Whoa182]

fat does add up to a significant amount of calories =/

and yes, calories from whatever source does make you fat too!

[keywstdame]

Hmmm. No more burgers or fries. No sugary cereals. Are they gonna ban pancakes and waffles with syrup? How about candy, fudge and deserts? If I remember correctly there are a number of shops on their properties that sell sweets - all banned? I think not. Smoke and mirrors folks. Smoke and Mirrors.

[Absinthe62]

I'm with keywstdame on this one. It sounds like a dream on paper, but I wonder what the reality will turn into. I bet Disney corp had some kind of falling out with McD's corp.

Also, is this just in Britain? I can't imagine the US going for it.

[ReginaW]

Hmmm. No more burgers or fries. No sugary cereals. Are they gonna ban pancakes and waffles with syrup? How about candy, fudge and deserts? If I remember correctly there are a number of shops on their properties that sell sweets - all banned? I think not. Smoke and mirrors folks. Smoke and Mirrors.

I was wondering about the soda....they mention fruit juice and burgers and fries, but soda? Not a word.....and yeah, they do have a lot of "shops" on their main street in the park that are just ice cream, candy, etc.

Personally, the park probably shouldn't change - rather than eliminate something like a burger and fries, add healthy selections.....if I want a burger, I want a burger - but would prefer to order a salad with it. The way it sounds now, I won't be able to order a burger......what are they going to replace it with, a veggie burger?

I think somewhere in all the focus on childhood obesity, we've missed something - the concept of special treats on special occassions!

I do applaud their disassociation from junk food targeting kids - whatever the reason, I think it's a good move --- some of the crap they have their name on is disgusting and specifically trying to get kids to whine to their parents to buy....like spongebob cookies (loaded with trans-fats) and such.

[Angeline]

I don't particularly care what they serve on their theme park. It's not as if most people, other than employees, get to eat there on a regular basis. So it has no real impact on obesity.

And as mentioned previously, people are on vacation, so it's a bit mean to deprive kids of special treats.

But, publicity, that's the big impact on the normal day-to-day, lives of children and their parents. The last thing parents need are kids bugging them to buy the latest <insert cartoon name> sugar and trans-fat laden breakfast cereal.

That's why I don't give a hoot about what they serve or don't serve on their theme park. The marketing is what has the biggest impact on day to day eating habits.

[KvonM]

I'm with keywstdame on this one. It sounds like a dream on paper, but I wonder what the reality will turn into. I bet Disney corp had some kind of falling out with McD's corp.

Also, is this just in Britain? I can't imagine the US going for it.

i didn't think there was a disney theme park in britain... i could be wrong, though :).

i can understand lending the disney name to healthy drinks and foods, but revamping the entire park's menus to get rid of burgers and other "fast" foods? it's not like people are living on the disney grounds all the time... and it's ALSO not like you aren't moving around through those parks CONSTANTLY. they're going to shoot themselves in the cartoon foot on this.

[ItsTheWooo]

But they still name fat as the big culprit. Out will go fat and sugar. In will come starch, starch, starch!

The net result is going to be better (probably) because without fat food just isn't that appealing. A normal portion of a 30% fat food item is actually better than a "this tastes good" portion of a 50% fat food item. The total calories are lower (calories... insulin fuel) and the spark itself is ironically less (because people tend to eat less if food isn't over stimulating, and eating less at meals is very important if eating carb).

[mzsunrize]

Those fat grams add up fast too since there are 9 calories to 1 gram of fat vs the 4 calories in 1 gram carb and protein.

I think that a child's way of eating starts at home. Parents and schools should be most responsible for what kids end up consuming and help them make better choices. I understand the whole advertising thing...but maybe kids should watch less TV and go outside.

I know Nickelodeon is totally pushing their "VERB:its what you do" campaign ALONG with spotlighting regular kids, who are active, on their network AND running "challenges". Nick does have ads for "healthy" junk food (like Go Gurt), yet they are pushing the "healthy and active" ads harder.

so...Kudos to Disney...but they just have to find a happy medium I think....

[ReginaW]

Nick does have ads for "healthy" junk food (like Go Gurt), yet they are pushing the "healthy and active" ads harder.



INGREDIENTS: Strawberry Splash Go-Gurt: Cultured Pasteurized Grade A Milk, Sugar, High Fructose, Corn Syrup, Nonfat Milk, Modified Corn Starch, Kosher Gelatin, Tricalcium Phosphate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Potassium Sobrate Added To Maintain Freshness, Carrageenan, Red # 40, Blue # 1.

INGREDIENTS: Berry Blue Blast Go-Gurt: Cultured Pasteurized Grade A Milk, Sugar, High Fructose, Corn Syrup, Nonfat Milk, Modified Corn Starch, Kosher Gelatin, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Sobrate Added To Maintain Freshness, Carrageenan, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Blue No 1, Red No 40.

What happened to real food?

[Jenn123]

Let me tell you, if I showed up at Disney and all they had were Cheerios and apples I'd be pissed. I don't think this will work. And I'm sorry, but you either have to cut out fat OR cut out sugar.... If you do both, you end up with poached chicken breast and egg whites.

Disney will NOT be serving fruits and veggies. Produce and juice is generally expensive (more so than fries or pop in giant quantities) so if they're cutting out sugar AND fat, they aren't left with much.

[AmoryBlain]

It doesn't get at the core of the problem; good eating behaviors are LEARNED. Major corporations and school districts are missing the point. Curbing childhood obesity must start IN THE HOME WITH THE PARENTS, where the responsibility SHOULD be. Teach kids to make healthy choices FIRST. Society is being reactive to an existing problem, not proactive.

[potatofree]

Disney Princess cereal is THE big thing with the younger set around here. Looks like Kelloggs is going to be losing a cash cow with Disney if that endorsement goes away.

http://www.kelloggs.com/brand/disneycereals/

[nawchem]

Disneyland is my favorite place in the world. I go there for my bday and christmas. The only decent things to eat there are burgers. My gourmet friend made us go to one of their restaurants and everything was breaded and fried or grains. It was expensive, incredibly slow and nothing was LC.

I remember seeing Pirates of the caribbean cereal a few weeks ago. I think it was like cocoa krispies. I was totally shocked by the whole breakfast foods aisle anyway. I hadn't had cereal in a few years, but I'd seen all the cereal is healthy commercials, what a joke its almost all candy with cartoon characters on the box.

[LilithD]

I can't believe all the anti-fat messages above. Has this site been taken over by the lowfat crowd??? I know that fat has more calories, but I still maintain that the lowfat delusion that starch is somehow better for you than sugar is dangerous. And since protein is 'too expensive' for junk food, and fat is maligned, starch will be the big filler for all this 'healthier' food.

[GeorgeMead]

INGREDIENTS: Strawberry Splash Go-Gurt: Cultured Pasteurized Grade A Milk, Sugar, High Fructose, Corn Syrup,… This is one of the most egregious scams of the food processing industry’s labeling schemes, conceal the highest percentage ingredient by using two, three or more different “ingredients” thus avoiding the necessity of putting Sugar first, where it belongs.

I think somewhere in all the focus on childhood obesity, we've missed something - the concept of special treats on special occasions! I agree, sadly, the Politically Correct solution more often than not just makes things worse. Deep fried food was infinitely better, and better for you, back in the good old days when beef tallow was the preferred frying agent. Imposing Politically Correct choices by removing Politically Incorrect choices is repugnant to me.

[relliott1]

I read a different article on the Disney issue a few days ago. My understanding was not that they were going to ban all "fast food", but rather that they were going to start offering better choices in their kids meals etc. Similar to McDonalds, they are going to start offering apple sauce, veggies, etc. instead of french fries with their kids meals. They are also going to replace sodas with milk, fruit juice or water. So, they will still be selling hamburgers - but will have healthier side dish choices.

They also are ending business relationships with any company who does not commit to the same "healthier food" philosophy. They recently ended their contract with McDonalds to have Happy Meals promoting Disney movies.

This, IMO, has all been done as a direct result of public outcry regarding obesity in children and the correlation with easy availability of fast food and other unhealthy choices. Disney is a business - they have to respond to the demands of their consumers. This doesn't mean they are going to shut down the candy shops on Main Street or Mickey's Ice Cream stand... it just means that their regular meals marketed to children will come with apple slices instead of french fries. I for one don't think it is a bad thing. I am going to Disney World in December, and look forward to being able to order a burger that comes with a side of something I might actually be able to eat. My kids prefer veggies and fruit anyway, so it will be nice to not watch them throw away a plate of fries that I just paid $10 for.

[arc]

I am going to Disney World in December, and look forward to being able to order a burger that comes with a side of something I might actually be able to eat.

I went to Disney World three years ago and, even then, you could get a bag of baby carrots instead of fries with a burger. It really wasn't that hard to eat fairly healthy at Disney and it wasn't as expensive as you would think. The stuff that was expensive was the ice cream, pop, etc that they sell in the little stands and in the specialty shops.

Each of the parks has a restaurant guide available that shows the various places to eat, what they sell and the price range.

With all the walking we did, I lost 5 pounds the week I was there. :)

[relliott1]

Hey Arc..... Sorry, I can't take any advice from a Beavers fan ;)

GO DUCKS!!!!!!!


:D :p :D

(Seriously though, thanks for the tip... this will be our first trip to Orlando. We are pretty excited!)

[arc]

GO DUCKS!!!!!!!

Oh, in that case, you should know that all of the ice cream and goodies they sell there are completely carb free (it's the Magic Kingdom, after all).


;)

:D

Have a great trip. We had a blast.

Tip: go on the safari in Animal Kingdom early. That is when the animals are out. Be sure to catch the fireworks shows, especially at MGM.

[LC-Laur]

Disney will NOT be serving fruits and veggies. Produce and juice is generally expensive.
Ah, but they already do. Most of their snack stands (the ones that sell candy and ice cream) also sell fruit and you've always been able to get baby carrots instead of fries with your burger. You can also order the burger on its own at the counter service places and then purchase a side salad to go with it instead of getting the "meal." It's up to the consumer to choose which snack they want - Disney DOES provide healthy options at all of their restaurants and a majority of their snack carts/locations. And their fruit is only $0.99-1.99 too, so you're actually spending less $$$ since those damn Mickey bars are like $4!

It sounds to me that they won't be getting rid of burgers at the park (afterall, what would they do with Pecos Bill?!?), they are just trying to end ties with places like McDonalds. For those of you that don't know, WDW has McDonalds CARTS positioned all over the parks!! Those will probably be the only burgers and fries to disappear. I say HORRAH to that! I'd rather have a real hamburger than the crap McD's sells.