The Senate approved the “Preventing Predatory Marketing” bill to curb “false and misleading” advertising, which mostly ensnares children into consuming unhealthy foods. The “yes” of the Assembly is missing.
For several years now, all kinds of awareness campaigns have been carried out on the importance of eating healthy and to the list of legislative measures that have been promoted in New York, it is expected that a bill will soon be added that seeks to curb to “false and misleading” advertising, which mostly traps children into consuming junk food.
The piece of law, known as the Predatory Marketing Prevention Act, was approved this week by the state Senate, and they urge the Assembly to do the same so that the regulation passes into the hands of Governor Hochul and becomes law , warning that it will have a positive impact on children and young people, mainly.
This was highlighted by Senator Zellnor Myrie, promoter of the initiative, who insisted that the industry spends billions directing attractive messages about unhealthy food to young people, affecting great disparities in health and a shorter life expectancy in black communities and latinas.
“Just last month, the US Surgeon General confirmed that young people are highly vulnerable to multi-billion dollar corporate marketing messages that warrant government action,” the Brooklyn lawmaker said. . “My Senate colleagues and I took a big step to protect young people from predatory marketing from an industry that has shown little regard for the health or safety of its products. Junk food companies have invested billions in honing strategies to target youth, especially low-income communities and people of color.
The senator points out that the junk food industry continues to aggressively market its products, earning billions of dollars and being able to limit its misleading advertising will save many lives and improve the quality of health of several generations.
“If we don’t stop the consumption of unhealthy food for our children today, they will be victims of the next pandemic tomorrow,” said the New York politician, referring to his project, which in the state Assembly is being sponsored by Latino assemblywoman Karines Reyes, of the Bronx County.
And it is that despite the fact that “false and misleading” advertising is already considered illegal in New York, according to state law, the new regulations would expand that concept by specifically including prohibitions for advertisements for unhealthy foods directed specifically at children. .
Likewise, the piece of law seeks to expand education on locally grown healthy foods for young people, in order to increase their consumption and improve the positive impact of healthy food on the little ones.
Data from the New York health authorities reveal that almost a third of New York children are obese or overweight, facts that directly affect disparities in health and life expectancy.
“Research shows that children are especially susceptible to marketing ploys because they are still forming their personal preferences and habits, are less likely to practice moderation, and can easily become addicted to the immediate gratification of eating unhealthy foods,” he added. Senator Myrie.
Tis article is originally published on eldiariony.com