CSPI Praises Sesame Street Workshop's Partnership with Sunkist
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
November 7, 2005
Parents of young children know how difficult a trip to the supermarket can be, when familiar cartoon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and Shrek grace the packaging of candy, sugary cereals, and other junk foods. We've long encouraged companies to use their marketing smarts to promote healthful foods and make it easier for parents to help to prevent obesity, diabetes, and other conditions in their kids.
We're thrilled about the partnership between Sesame Street Workshop and Sunkist, which will help encourage kids to snack on fruit and engage in other healthy habits. We hope that big entertainment conglomorates that make billions from licensing deals follow Big Bird's and Elmo's lead--and do more to help kids and families, instead of helping fuel the obesity epidemic by plugging junk food.