DeLauro Introduces Bill Ending Subsidy for Marketing Unhealthy Foods to Children

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)introduced legislation today that would close a tax loophole that allowscompanies to claim a tax deduction for marketing unhealthy food products tochildren. The bill would not affect a company's ability to market anyfood product it chooses to any audience, but it would stop the current practiceof taxpayers subsidizing some of those marketing practices.

"The epidemic of childhood obesity harms both the health andquality of life for today's kids. Even as adult obesity doubled in recentyears, we saw childhood obesity triple. According to the group Mission Readiness, roughly aquarter of the young Americans deemed unfit for the armed services are unfitbecause they are overweight or obese. Clearly we must act.

"Addressing the complex issues underlying this epidemic willrequire a multi-faceted approach, and this bill is one piece of thatapproach. Taxpayers should not continue to subsidize a tax loophole thatallows companies to deduct expenses for marketing unhealthy foods to kids."

Unhealthy food products will be defined as those that areinconsistent with federal Dietary Guidelines. Those guidelines are based on thelatest science and nutritional data, and are updated regularly to reflect thatdata.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,the rate of childhood obesity has tripled in just one generation. Additional information may be found here.