USDA urged to protect kids from junk food marketing on online learning platforms

A coalition of civil rights, child welfare, and health organizations is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to protect children from junk-food marketing on online learning platforms increasingly used by school children during the Covid-19 pandemic.

At least three major food advertisers – McDonald’s, Kraft Heinz, and Kellogg – have committed to cease advertising on such platforms after the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and other health advocates separately raised concerns over ads for Honey Nut Frosted Flakes, Lunchables, and Happy Meals on the online learning platform ABCya.

Read the letter to Agriculture Secretary Perdue here.