Disney as a leader takes a stand on marketing junk food for kids

Recently as some folks who know me, know-- I was very disappointed in the Walt Disney co.'s via ABC's right wing ties in producing the TV propaganda piece "Path To 9/11" but I am also fair enough to give credit where credit is due. Disney is taking a HUGE stand, and fantastic steps forward on dealing with America's peddling high fructose corn syrup and saturated fats to children.

from the NYTIMES
Disney Says It Will Link Marketing to Nutrition
By LANDON THOMAS Jr.
Published: October 17, 2006

Buzz Lightyear and Lightning McQueen will not be endorsing junk food much longer.

Walt Disney, addressing the growing concerns of parents over child nutrition, said yesterday that it would curtail the use of its name and characters with food items that did not meet new nutritional standards. The new guidelines would limit how much sugar, calories and fat could be in snacks and foods marketed by companies that Disney has licensing relationships with.

The move, which comes at a time of mounting worry about childhood obesity, is likely to put pressure on the company’s competitors to follow suit. Left outside the scope of yesterday’s initiative was any mention of the considerable advertising for junk food products that is carried on Disney’s television networks, especially Toon Disney and ABC Kids.

But the policy change was broadly hailed by food industry experts, who saw it as an important statement in the increasingly vocal debate over what parents want their children to eat and what the food companies are trying to sell to them.

You can read the rest of the story here. (though you need to register.)

take away around the world!

I always read food news, food politics, trends, keeping an eye on what is what. Found a funny story today. As an american I have always thought of taking home leftovers a right. I don't often do it, because I almost always forget about them, either on the table after they are nicely packaged for me, or in my refridgerator back home which means they become some kind of science experiement- till I finally come across them again and throw them away. But many of my friends and family are take away converts. Doggie bags are more than common for Americans.

Living in Japan, I found that to be not a universal expectation. It makes sense actually as fish, a major ingredient in many japanese dishes, and the heat here in the summers would make for a dangerous left-overs combination. But I never really thought more of it after that.

Today I came across a story examining the "doggie bag" responses in 7 countries. They ranged from tolerance, to totally expected to flatly refused- (here in Japan.) The Russian response surprised me.

You can read the story here. at the Post Gazette from Pittsburgh.

I loved the response in Singapore! And the French- totally what I would have expected.

food news from Wired? and the high tech area of Akihabara

TOKYO -- A new dessert sold from a roadside stand in Tokyo's Akihabara electronics district is drawing crowds with its unique taste -- exactly like that of freshly fallen snow. this story from wired
This is the Money Quote from Chris Kohler's blog

...it's basically ice cream but with a mouth-feel that is almost exactly like snow. Snow. Eating snow is awesome. It's one of the best parts of being a child. Sno-cones are shaved ice, which fail to capture the airy, crystalline feel of snowflakes. But damn if the Japanese haven't figured out how to do it with ice cream. It's really amazing. And apparently you can only get this stuff in Akihabara, as far as I can tell.

here is the shop link...only in Japanese but I am on a mission to go try this. will report back later!