What was Channel One News thinking? A youth obesity crisis was raging in the U.S. in 2003, yet Channel One ran numerous commercials to their captive audience for a new junk food: Lay’s Stax Potato Chips. These stackable chips had MORE calories than regular Lay’s chips.
Sept. 19, 2003 – Betcha can’t eat just one?! Channel One News dared students to resist the “irresistible” new Lay’s Stax Potato Chips. Add this to the Twinkies and Pepsi ads that dominated this controversial in-classroom TV show and it’s clear Channel One News had a big role in worsening the youth obesity crisis.
Relentlessly advertising junk food to their captive audience of schoolchildren cost Channel One News dearly. Their irresponsible advertising caused school districts to terminate their contracts with the youth marketing firm.
