Disney Takes On Obesity

[Commentary] The Walt Disney Company deserves applause for its plan to impose strict standards on food advertising aimed at young children on Disney-owned television channels, radio stations and Web sites.

The standards, based on federal guidelines, should eliminate junk-food ads on children’s programs and could set an example for other companies and advertisers to follow. Disney officials say they may lose some advertising dollars in the beginning but believe that appealing to parents with healthier food is “smart business.” The company’s move could put pressure on other child-oriented networks to do the same and could push food companies and fast-food chains to reformulate products so that they can keep advertising with Disney. If that happens, the marketing game will be doing some good by giving consumers healthier choices.