Should there be Ethical Issues with Fast Food Companies Advertising to Children?We have a serious moral dilemma, or ethical issue, in this country. Too often, fast food companies are advertising directly to children the products which contribute to our obesity problem. Fast food . Sugary cereals. Colas. You cannot escape the commercials for these and other products enticing our children to make less than ideal choices. They are catchy and hip. The music is appealing, the graphics are powerful, the food is 'big', and the individuals are interesting. Sometimes they are even celebrities. What I find most interesting is something else. It is the fact that actors and actresses in these television spots are usually thin and fit. They certainly are not examples of what one might look like if they consistently ate a high-fat, high-sugar diet. Of course, that fact escapes young impressionable children. All they see is the fun that is associated with eating this burger and fries, or that cereal. Some might say that no one is forcing parents to buy these products or foods for their children. This is true. But, these ads position the products as 'must haves'. Even if their parents do not buy them the products, children are influenced. They may choose pizza and fries for a school lunch instead of a healthier option. They may buy a cola instead of a water or milk or they may eat a sugary baked good instead of a healthy fruit. When it comes to our children, we need to go out of our way to counteract the effects of products marketed directly to them. We need to talk to our children about why the true picture is often very different from what they see on TV or the internet.
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