Eye On Marketers

Honey Bunches of Oats is engaging the Latino community by launching #LatinosConDedicacion at the 16th Annual Latin GRAMMY Gift Lounge. At the award show, company representatives will interview guests and celebrities about what they are passionate about. Viewers watching at home are encouraged to share the hashtag #LatinosConDedicacion on social media. For every person that posts, Honey Bunches of Oats will donate $1 to Feeding America. While donating meals to the hungry is a worthy cause, this campaign uses the guise of "doing good" to target Latinos with a sugary product.

Earlier this week, McDonald's co-hosted the 2015 McDonald's Flavor Battle competition for DJs, along with Complex Media. This event is part of McDonald's 365Black platform, which specifically targets the African-American community. 

A recent report from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity examined TV snack advertising to children and teens from 2010-2014. Over the course of five years, the study found that "Black children saw 99% more ads for savory snacks and Black teens saw 129% more, compared with white children and teens." In response to the report, soda industry officials use the conventional argument that it's up to individuals to self-regulate rather than the industry to maintain equitable practices. 

Amid declining sales, the fast food chain is testing energy drinks in about 20 of its U.S. locations. This Wall Street Journal article mentions the health concerns associated with energy drinks but misses the important context that energy drinks have been under scrutiny for youth-directed marketing