A report released by the FTC recommends companies promote healthy eating and exercise to young children. (Seth Perlman/Associated Press)

Imagine Superman promoting fresh fruits and vegetables instead of a cereal.

Children are confronted with such a barrage of advertising for food and drink — much of it unhealthy — that the entertainment industry should take steps to tie popular TV and movie characters to more nutritional products, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission says.

The recommendation was part of a report showing that the largest food and beverage companies spent about $1.6 billion US in 2006 marketing their products — especially carbonated drinks — to children and adolescents.

The report, released Tuesday, stems from lawmakers' concerns about growing obesity rates in children. It gives researchers new insight into how much companies are spending to attract youth to their products, and what venues the companies are using for their marketing. To come up with its estimate, the FTC used confidential financial data that it required the companies to turn over.

Overall, the spending was less than some previous estimates had indicated. Still, it represents a large pot of money that is being used to entice children to foods that are often unhealthy choices, said Iowa Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin, who sought the study.

"This study confirms what I have been saying for years. Industry needs to step up to the plate and use their innovation and creativity to market healthy foods to our kids," Harkin said. "That $1.6 billion could be used to attract our kids to healthy snacks, tasty cereals, fruits and vegetables."

$492 M spent to advertise pop

The commission studied spending directed at children ages 2-17. Spending on soda marketing came to $492 million US, with the vast majority of that directed toward adolescents. Restaurants reported spending close to $294 million US, which was divided about evenly between children and adolescents. For cereals, companies spent about $237 million US with the vast majority of that amount aimed at children under age 12.

The 44 companies reviewed spread their marketing across all segments of the media, the commission found. Themes of television ads usually carried over to packaging and displays in stores, and to the internet where entry of a code on a package allowed children to participate in games or contests offering prizes.

For example, Superman Returns and Pirates of the Caribbean were prominently linked to many food products last year. Companies created limited-edition snacks, cereals, waffles and candy based on the movies. They offered prizes on the internet to buyers of those products that ranged from video games to trips to Disney World to a $1 million reward for the capture of Superman villain Lex Luthor.

"The Internet — though far less costly than television — has become a major marketing tool of food companies that target children and adolescents, with more than two-thirds of the 44 companies reporting online, youth-directed activities," the commission report said.

The FTC made several recommendations as part of its report:

• Media and entertainment companies should limit the licensing of characters to healthier foods and drinks.
• Schools should adopt meaningful nutrition standards for the foods that are sold there, and companies should cease all in-school promotion of products that don't meet such standards.
• Companies that market food and drinks to children should expand public-outreach efforts to educate children about the importance of healthy eating and exercise, with particular attention aimed at minority populations that are disproportionately affected by childhood obesity.

The commission noted that its review came during a year in which food and beverage companies had committed to curtailing the marketing of unhealthy products. For example, it noted that 13 companies representing more than two-thirds of advertising spending directed toward children had pledged to not direct their ads to children under 12 — unless the foods met specific nutritional standards.