Michelle Obama pushes for ads for healthful foods for kids

First Lady Michelle Obama urged food industry executives to increase their advertising of healthful products for kids, carefully returning to the debate over food marketing and childhood obesity after facing criticism for largely avoiding the controversial fight.

"All of you, more than anyone else, have the power to shape our kids' tastes and desires," Obama said in remarks directed at food and media companies that have resisted attempts to link advertising to obesity. "You all know that our kids are like little sponges. They absorb whatever is around them," she said. "But they don't yet have the ability to question and analyze what they're told." Obama made the remarks before she convened dozens of business representatives, lobbyists, nutrition advocates and government officials for a meeting on the issue. The private session, organized by both the first lady's office and the president's policy advisors, now positions Michelle Obama as the facilitator of the debate.