GMA Supports Industry Ad Guidelines

SN STAFF

WASHINGTON — Grocery Manufacturers Association here said Thursday it supported proposed advertising guidelines introduced by the Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI).

"America's food and beverage companies in recent years have developed and introduced innovative products, tools and information to help consumers achieve and maintain a healthy diet," GMA said in a prepared statement. "They have also implemented robust, voluntary changes to child-directed marketing that have dramatically changed the marketing landscape in recent years."

The new standards announced by CFBAI, which is a program of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, establish specific limits for calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and total sugars in the products advertised to children.

The new guidelines would take effect Jan. 1, 2014.

"Food and beverage industry self-regulation is working, and the changes announced today will further advance an already strong program that ensures that only healthy product choices and healthy lifestyle messages are seen by children," GMA said.