The Institute of Medicine in December released a study indicating that the use of cartoon characters in encouraging healthy eating should only be used when those same characters are not used to promote fast foods.

Cartoon characters such as Spongebob Squarepants, which was recently featured as part of the President Clinton/Nickolodeon initiative to address childhood obesity, have also been used to push fast food. The Institute recommends creating a national, public-private collaborative campaign to educate parents and children about making healthy food choices; developing nutrition standards for food and beverages sold in vending machines and school stores; working with the USDA to develop new strategies to promote healthy eating; and urging the government to support subsidies, legislation and regulations to make fruits and vegetables readily available to all children.

Click here for information on the Institute’s report.