'Better for you' options are en vogue with food makers, but are they just a fad?
May 11, 2006

Whole wheat is in, chocolate bars and pop are out. At least that's the message from food makers and marketers amid concerns over childhood obesity and raising diabetes rates... MORE»

murmur categories: food, kids, health, advertising

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism food nutrition health diet children obesity

posted by Tessa | 12:03 PM (ET) | Permalink

Disney getting out of Happy Meals over obesity concerns
May 8, 2006

Walt Disney Co. is breaking up with fast food powerhouse McDonald's; the studio is cutting its cross-promotional ties with the chain in an effort to distance itself from fast food and its links to childhood obesity... MORE»

murmur categories: food, kids, health, advertising

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism nutrition health diet school children obesity

posted by Tessa | 12:13 PM (ET) | Permalink

U.S. schools to become pop-free
May 4, 2006

In an effort to combat child obesity, about 35 million students in the United States will no longer be able to buy regular soft drinks at school... MORE»

murmur categories: health, food/drink, kids

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism nutrition health diet school children obesity

posted by Tessa | 11:19 AM (ET) | Permalink

Rein in baby video marketing: consumer group
May 2, 2006

Companies are deceiving the public with the marketing and advertising of so-called "educational toys," a consumer group in the U.S. says... MORE»

murmur categories: advertising, kids, logos/branding, activism

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism advertising children education media parenting research

posted by Tessa | 10:35 AM (ET) | Permalink

No harm done by mercury fillings in kids: studies
April 19, 2006

Silver-coloured dental fillings containing mercury, a neurotoxin, do not appear to cause brain damage in children, two studies suggest... MORE»

murmur categories: health, kids

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism dental dentistry children mercury toxins

posted by Tessa | 9:38 AM (ET) | Permalink

How to make a green baby
April 12, 2006

According to a study from the U.K., 70 per cent of parents became more interested in environmental issues following the birth of their baby. I guess I'm a worrywart; my baby hasn't arrived, but I've already started brooding about the ecological footprint of my future offspring (my husband and I are awaiting the birth of our first baby any day now)... MORE»

murmur categories: environment, kids

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism babies parenting environment green eco environment diapers

posted by Tessa | 12:29 PM (ET) | Permalink

Sesame Street for babies draws fire from experts
April 4, 2006

Sesame Workshop, the producer of Sesame Street, is coming under fire from some child development experts who say the company's Sesame Beginnings series pushes TV on kids as young as six months old... MORE»

murmur categories: kids

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism kids children parenting television Sesame Street child development

posted by Tessa | 10:20 AM (ET) | Permalink

Many kids too obese for car seats: study
April 3, 2006

A growing number of American children are too heavy to fit into standard car seats, a new study has found ... MORE»

murmur categories: kids, health/safety, travel, cars

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism car seats parenting travel children obesity

posted by Tessa | 11:33 AM (ET) | Permalink

Risky ride underfoot from wheeled shoes: safety council
March 22, 2006

Children and adults who wear Heelys – popular shoes with detachable wheels in the heels – should also don helmets and other protective gear, a safety group says... MORE»

murmur categories: kids, health/safety

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism safety kids children Heelys

posted by Tessa | 9:57 AM (ET) | Permalink

Ditch the antibacterial products: Canadian Paediatric Society
March 17, 2006

Washing your hands with good old soap and water is your best bet for fighting germs, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society... MORE»

murmur categories: health, kids

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism soap antibacterial health research

posted by Tessa | 9:38 AM (ET) | Permalink

Ipod generation risks permanent hearing loss, U.S. poll suggests
March 15, 2006

More than half of American high school students surveyed reported some signs of hearing loss, a finding audiologists blame on ubiquitous iPod, other MP3 players and portable DVD players... MORE»

murmur categories: health, kids, technology

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism iPod hearing loss science research portable technology health

posted by Tessa | 9:42 AM (ET) | Permalink

Soft drink sales go flat for first time in 20 years
March 10, 2006

For the first time in two decades, the sale of carbonated soft drinks is down, according to Ad Age... MORE»

murmur categories: health, food/drink, kids

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism nutrition health diet research beverages

posted by Tessa | 10:32 AM (ET) | Permalink

More obese kids predicted
March 6, 2006

There will be more obese children all around the world by the end of the decade, the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity says... MORE»

murmur categories: health, food, kids

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism health obesity kids children diet

posted by Tessa | 10:45 AM (ET) | Permalink

Child car seat instructions confusing: police
March 6, 2006

Nearly 80 per cent of children's car seats are improperly installed, according to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, but Toronto police say manufacturers should share some of the blame... MORE»

murmur categories: kids, health/safety, travel, cars

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism car seats parenting children travel children

posted by Tessa | 10:02 AM (ET) | Permalink

Teenage girls prefer pop: nutrition study
February 25, 2006

Girls tend to drink less milk and more pop as they get older, lowering their calcium intake and gaining weight, according to a 10-year study in the U.S. ... MORE»

murmur categories: health, food/drink, kids

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism nutrition health diet research

posted by Tessa | 10:10 AM (ET) | Permalink

Kids who drink bottled water risk tooth decay: American Dental Association
February 17, 2006

More and more Americans are guzzling bottled water every year – some 7.5 billion gallons were sucked back in 2005, according to preliminary figures from the Beverage Marketing Corp. – and that has some dentists worrying about tooth decay... MORE»

murmur categories: health, food/drink, kids

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism water bottled water dental dentistry

posted by Tessa | 4:43 PM (ET) | Permalink

Alarm sounded about children's reactions to medications
February 13, 2006

Too many children are being hurt or killed by adverse reactions to medications that could be prevented, a Canadian specialist says... MORE»

murmur categories: health, kids

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism health medicine science research kids children

posted by Tessa | 1:52 PM (ET) | Permalink

European companies say they'll stop pitching sugar drinks to kids
January 25, 2006

European divisions of global beverage companies like Coca-Cola and Cadbury Schweppes say they're going to wean their advertising to children and introduce low-calorie and sugar-free versions of their products... MORE»

murmur categories: health food advertising kids

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism health research diet nutrition advertising marketing obesity kids children

posted by Tessa | 10:39 AM (ET) | Permalink

Consumer groups fire “last resort” attack against food giants
January 19, 2006

Student's bill would junk unhealthy food in school cafeterias
January 16, 2006

A Grade 9 student in Ontario has drafted a private member's bill calling for tougher nutritional standards in high school cafeterias. As part of CBC News: Making the Grade series, students across the province submitted ideas for a private member's bill. The series aims to get young people interested in politics by getting them involved in the process... MORE»

murmur categories: health food kids

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism health obesity kids children

posted by Tessa | 10:12 AM (ET) | Permalink

Protect kids from computer injuries, safety council urges
January 6, 2006

Researchers fear the popularity of computers and video games is responsible for an increase inchildren are getting strain injuries injuries among children. The Canada Safety Council says from sitting in front of computers and video games for hours... MORE»

murmur categories: kids, health, technology

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism video games computers ergonomics kids children health parenting technology

posted by Tessa | 5:58 pm (ET) | Permalink

Kids aren’t any safer in an SUV than a car: study
January 4, 2006

Research released yesterday about the safety of Sport Utility Vehicles puts the brakes to the idea that bigger is better. A U.S. study says children are no safer riding in SUVs than in cars... MORE »

murmur categories: cars/auto industry, kids, safety

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, SUVs, safety, kids

posted by Tessa | 9:51 AM (ET) | Permalink

Not exactly what Mattel intended girls to do with Barbie…
December 20, 2005

A few years ago, when my parents were downsizing from my childhood home and cleaning up the place for potential buyers, my dad made a remarkable archaeological discovery: tucked in the back corner of our yard he found a Barbie graveyard... MORE»

murmur categories: marketing/advertising, brands/logos, kids, miscellaneous

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, Barbie, Mattel, toys

posted 10:08 AM (ET) | Permalink

Pacifiers may help in fight against SIDS, research shows
December 9, 2005

The pacifier, no stranger to controversy, may not be just a soothing device – new research shows it may be a lifesaver, the Toronto Star reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:17 AM (ET) | Permalink

Change junk food ads aimed at kids: report
December 7, 2005

Food and beverage ads aimed at children 12 and under promote unhealthy choices, according to a new report that recommends the food industry market more nutritious options... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 11:26 AM (ET) | Permalink

Soft drink sales dip in U.S. schools
December 1, 2005

The American Beverage Association says the amount of non-diet soft drinks sold in the nation's schools dropped more than 24 percent between 2002 and 2004, the Associated Press reports... MORE »

murmur categories: health, food, kids

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, health, obesity, kids, junk food

posted by Tessa | 10:13 AM (ET) | Permalink

Virtual pets, $240 castle and rocking horse top toys list
November 14, 2005

A train set that talks and sings and a $240 play castle are among the top toys of the year, according to the Canadian Toy Testing Council... MORE »

murmur categories: kids, products

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, toys

posted by Tessa | 12:22 PM (ET) | Permalink

Anti-junk food campaign turns to stomach-churning tactics
November 8, 2005

We all know junk food isn’t good for children, but getting them to lay off the burgers and chicken nuggets is no easy task.

The British Heart Foundation thinks its new campaign, Food for Thought, will do just that by showing picky kids the nauseating truth: that burgers, hot dogs and chicken nuggets are really a stomach-turning mix of mystery meat, fatty entrails and gristle... MORE »

murmur categories: advertising/marketing, food/drink, kids

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, obesity, kids, nutrition

posted by Tessa | 12:53 PM (ET) | Permalink

Boo! Halloween closing in on Christmas as top retail season
October 31, 2005

It used to be a night of trick or treating and some minor mayhem. But Halloween has suddenly become the newest shopping season, with total sales this year projected to top $1 billion in Canada... MORE »

murmur categories: kids, money/finances

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, Halloween, retail, shopping

posted by Tessa | 9:22 AM (ET) | Permalink

Dissecting the advertising onslaught on the young
October 25, 2005

The Guardian has a fascinating piece about the inundation of advertising and marketing on young minds. There are dozens of crazy tidbits to amaze, astound and annoy... MORE »

murmur categories: advertising, kids, logos/branding

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, advertising, children, marketing

posted by Tessa | 10:21 AM (ET) | Permalink

Keep children off 'toys that kill,' says doctor urging ATV ban
October 25, 2005

Doctors and nurses at Nova Scotia's children's hospital are demanding the province scrap its new rules for all-terrain vehicles, which will allow children as young as six to drive smaller machines... MORE »

murmur categories: health, kids

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, kids, children, toys, atvs

posted by Tessa | 9:23 AM (ET) | Permalink

Top 100 toys of the 70s and 80s
October 21, 2005

Take a trip down memory lane with this catalogue of the top toys from the 70s and 80s... MORE »

murmur categories: kids, products

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, toys, kids, products

posted by Tessa | 11:50 AM (ET) | Permalink

Growing number of kids gulping “beer” drink in Japan
August 9, 2005

A non-alcoholic beverage targeted at kids is catching on with young drinkers in Japan... MORE »

posted 1:53 PM (ET) | Permalink

Pediatricians call for mandatory car booster seats for children
June 24, 2005

All provinces and territories should make car booster seats mandatory to protect children in car accidents, the head of the Canadian Pediatric Society said yesterday... MORE »

posted 10:35 AM (ET) | Permalink

Mentors model healthy living for overweight kids
June 17, 2005

Children with weight problems in Montreal are being paired with mentors who help them to get out and be active, CBC Health and Science News reports... MORE »

posted 10:20 AM (ET) | Permalink

Procter & Gamble drops campaign for deodorant aimed at 7-year-old girls
June 13, 2005

Procter & Gamble has quashed its Secret Sparkle Body Spray ad campaign that targeted preteen girls with a deodorant body spray... MORE »

posted 11:22 AM (ET) | Permalink

More young people getting skin cancer
May 27, 2005

Teens and people in their 20s are starting to get a very common form of skin cancer usually found in people over 50, the Canadian Dermatology Association said today... MORE »

posted 2:29 PM (ET) | Permalink

Battle over Barbie in Quebec heads to Supreme Court
May 27, 2005

Mattel is suing a restaurateur in Quebec for naming his BBQ-themed joint "Barbie's." The California-based toy maker is taking the case to Canada’s Supreme Court, claiming that children might wander alone into the bar under the mistaken impression that it has something to do with the Barbie dolls... MORE »

posted 10:54 AM (ET) | Permalink

Canadian children get Fs in phys-ed
May 27, 2005

A new evaluation of children's fitness gives Canada a failing grade, the head of a national charity devoted to boosting healthy living said yesterday... MORE »

posted 10:34 AM (ET) | Permalink

Eat your greens and get an iPod
May 24, 2005

Some kids in Scotland are participating in a tempting scheme to get them to ditch junk food. Glasgow City Council is offering 30,000 children in 29 secondary schools rewards like iPods and Xbox consoles for eating healthy, BBC News reports... MORE »

posted 10:14 AM (ET) | Permalink

Ontario passes allergy law for schools
May 17, 2005

Ontario has become the first Canadian province requiring public school teachers to be trained to recognize the symptoms of acute allergic reactions and know how to treat them... MORE »

posted 2:42 PM (ET) | Permalink

Playing video games boosts business skills?
May 12, 2005

Playing computer and video games has long been dismissed as worthless --and by some critics even dangerous-- but there’s a growing body of research that seems to indicate that gaming provides notable benefits to kids, parents, workers and businesses... MORE »

posted 10:24 AM (ET) | Permalink

Gadget promises to decipher baby’s babbles
May 10, 2005

The Japanese toy maker behind the “Bowlingual,” which claims to decipher a dog’s bow-wows, is developing a new device that will translate a baby’s babbling... MORE »

posted 10:56 AM (ET) | Permalink

New deodorant aimed at 7-year-old girls
May 6, 2005

Procter and Gamble is releasing a deodorant that it hopes will attract young girls to its Secret brand, Ad Age reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:10 AM (ET) | Permalink

Canadian youth rate poorly on obesity scales
April 21, 2005

Canadian youth are spending so much time in front of TV and computer screens that they rank fourth in the world for obesity, a new study finds... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:24 AM (ET) | Permalink

Keeping track of the kids, GPS style
April 14, 2005

Japanese parents have a new way of keeping track of their children’s whereabouts, thanks to school uniform maker Ogo-Sangyo. The company is making blazers fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices for grade school pupils, Japan Today reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:33 AM (ET) | Permalink

Disney baubles contain lead, group charges
April 13, 2005

An environmental group says some jewellery sold by the Walt Disney Co. contains dangerously toxic levels of lead... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:05 AM (ET) | Permalink

Riding the school bus exposes kids to pollution: study
April 6, 2005

Children riding in school buses are breathing in more pollution than people standing out on the streets, U.S. researchers have found... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:06 AM (ET) | Permalink

Teens' txt earns tsk from parents and teachers
March 22, 2005

As Canadian teens develop a new lexicon for their text messages, parents are wondering if the texting lingo is contributing to illiteracy... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:02 AM (ET) | Permalink

Nobody under 18 should use a tanning bed: WHO
March 17, 2005

The World Health Organization says people under 18 years old should never use tanning beds... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 1:31 PM (ET) | Permalink

Kids spend more time with media that adults spend at work: study
March 10, 2005

A new study says the typical kid in the U.S. is exposed to 8.5 hours of media content and advertising in an average day, AdAge reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:52 AM (ET) | Permalink

McDonald’s to launch global ad campaign aimed at getting kids active
March 9, 2005

McDonald’s is set to roll out a global advertising campaign that will promote eating right and staying active in messages geared to children... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 11:02 AM (ET) | Permalink

Barbie undergoes yet another makeover
March 4, 2005

Mattel, the maker of Barbie, is hoping to reinvent the long-limbed doll through a partnership with Fox TV's wildly popular American Idol franchise... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:30 AM (ET) | Permalink

Lead in kids’ jewellery targeted by new U.S. regulations
February 9, 2005

The Kansas City Star reports that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced new enforcement guidelines to reduce the health risks from lead in children's metal jewellery... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:38 AM (ET) | Permalink

Parents of active kids should get a tax break: B.C. MLA
February 3, 2005

A former British Columbia cabinet minister wants the province to give parents a financial incentive to keep their kids active in extracurricular sports, recreation and the arts... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 11:25 AM (ET) | Permalink

McDonald’s targets kids as young as four with ads
January 28, 2005

A McDonald’s executive says the fast food company takes Ronald McDonald, it’s colourful clown mascot, to elementary schools and aims its advertising to children as young as four... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:43 AM (ET) | Permalink

Health Canada weighs ban on baby bath seats
January 27, 2005

Parents should avoid buying infant bath seats or bath rings because the products are linked to injuries and drownings, pediatricians say. Earlier today, the Canadian Pediatric Society asked its members to discourage parents from buying and using the seats or rings... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 8:10 PM (ET) | Permalink

Baby bottle warning
January 25, 2005

An American scientist says he’s worried about the safety of babies' bottles... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:58 AM (ET) | Permalink

Kraft to cut back on junk food ads aimed at kids
January 12, 2005

Kraft Foods says it will remove some of its snack foods from advertising in media seen by children aged 6-11 as part of the fight against rising obesity levels... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:51 AM (ET) | Permalink

Keep kids away from cellphones
January 12, 2005

No child under eight should have a mobile phone, and base towers should be kept away from schools, an official inquiry into the safety of mobiles in England has found... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:22 AM (ET) | Permalink

Cleaning products may affect babies' breathing
January 11, 2005

Pregnant women who use a lot of household chemical products are more likely to have babies with persistent wheezing, new research from Britain reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 2:10 PM (ET) | Permalink

Junk food ad ban proposed
January 7, 2005

posted by Tessa | 12:14 PM (ET) | Permalink