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Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan

October 30, 2013

The announcement from Sesame Workshop and the First Lady is welcome news given that most all food marketed to children is of poor nutritional quality, and that children are eating far less fruit and vegetables than is recommended for good health.

All too often companies undermine parents by using characters to lure kids into eating fake fruit snacks and other junk. It will be great to see Elmo, Big Bird, and other beloved characters on more real fruits and vegetables, which will make it easier for parents to get their kids to eat them.

We applaud Sesame Workshop for offering to provide their characters at no cost to produce companies and farmers to encourage children to eat more vegetables and fruits. Sesame Workshop was the first entertainment company to adopt a policy to reduce unhealthy food marketing to children, though it seems time to update that policy and only allow their characters on truly healthful food.