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Food and nutrition in Canadian "prime time" television commercials.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ostbye, T; Pomerleau, J; White, M; Coolich, M; McWhinney, J
Published in: Can J Public Health
1993

Television is, arguably, the most influential mass medium and "prime time" viewing attracts the largest audiences. To assess the type, number and nutritional content of foods advertised on TV, commercial breaks during "prime time" (7:00 to 11:00 p.m.) on five Canadian channels (CBC-English, CBC-French, CTV, CFPL, Much Music) were recorded and analyzed. A similar analysis of Saturday morning children's TV commercials was also performed. Commercials for foods and food products constituted between 24-35% of all commercials, the largest advertising output for any group of products. The combination of food presented in commercials reflected average current consumption patterns. Of special concern was the emphasis on low nutrition beverages, especially beer, as well as snacks and candy on Much Music. While further government intervention to restrict advertising practices may be an impractical option, there is scope for increasing the alternative promotion of healthy dietary choices.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Can J Public Health

ISSN

0008-4263

Publication Date

1993

Volume

84

Issue

6

Start / End Page

370 / 374

Location

Switzerland

Related Subject Headings

  • Television
  • Public Health
  • Nutritive Value
  • Nutritional Sciences
  • Humans
  • Food
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Child
  • Canada
 

Citation

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Ostbye, T., Pomerleau, J., White, M., Coolich, M., & McWhinney, J. (1993). Food and nutrition in Canadian "prime time" television commercials. Can J Public Health, 84(6), 370–374.
Ostbye, T., J. Pomerleau, M. White, M. Coolich, and J. McWhinney. “Food and nutrition in Canadian "prime time" television commercials.Can J Public Health 84, no. 6 (1993): 370–74.
Ostbye T, Pomerleau J, White M, Coolich M, McWhinney J. Food and nutrition in Canadian "prime time" television commercials. Can J Public Health. 1993;84(6):370–4.
Ostbye, T., et al. “Food and nutrition in Canadian "prime time" television commercials.Can J Public Health, vol. 84, no. 6, 1993, pp. 370–74.
Ostbye T, Pomerleau J, White M, Coolich M, McWhinney J. Food and nutrition in Canadian "prime time" television commercials. Can J Public Health. 1993;84(6):370–374.

Published In

Can J Public Health

ISSN

0008-4263

Publication Date

1993

Volume

84

Issue

6

Start / End Page

370 / 374

Location

Switzerland

Related Subject Headings

  • Television
  • Public Health
  • Nutritive Value
  • Nutritional Sciences
  • Humans
  • Food
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Child
  • Canada