There is a person named Obama who is fighting hard against corporations' negative impact on our society. This Obama is taking the message straight to the corporations in an effort to get them to change their ways.
Did you think we were talking about Barack?
Michelle Obama, America's First Lady, spoke before the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) to get them to create healthier products — here's a valuable difference — and market those same products to children. The GMA lobbys for its companies, some of the largest food making and processing companies in the country.
Coca-Cola, one of the targeted companies, makes Dasani water. But how many commercials do you see for Dasani vs. Coca-Cola?
Those of us who remember the McLean burger from McDonald's in the 1990s remember with pain how the giant burger chain had a good product with the healthier burger, yet never put the burger on sale or really promoted it with any vigor. McDonald's eventually discontinued the McLean burger, citing poor sales.
"We need you not just to tweak around the edges, but to entirely rethink the products that you're offering, the information that you provide about these products and how you market those products to our children," Michelle Obama said, speaking before the GMA. "You know what gets them to drive their parents crazy in the grocery store. And I'm here today to ask you to use that knowledge and that power to our kids' advantage."
Marketing unhealthy products to our children has been highly controversial, though the same should apply for adults. But since children are even more susceptible to the whims of advertising, they should be the primary focus.
Michelle Obama has been on the move, so to speak, having just launched Let's Move in an effort to reduce childhood obesity.
She has been talking to all different groups in the food chain, and put words into action with the launch of the White House organic garden.
Tackling the food industry itself is the hardest climb yet. But if anyone can show that it can be done, Michelle Obama is the one to do so.
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