The Dannon Company, headquartered in White Plains, NY, is a leading yogurt producer in the U.S. As the newest member of the Initiative, The Dannon Company joins a group that includes 14 other global, market-leading food and beverage manufacturers and restaurateurs. The Initiative is designed to shift the mix of advertising messaging directed at children to encourage healthier dietary choices and healthy lifestyles.
 
“We are extremely pleased to welcome The Dannon Company on board as our newest participant,” said Elaine D. Kolish, Director of the Initiative. “Lawmakers, regulators and health and advocacy organizations have commended the Initiative as a positive development in achieving balance in food and beverage advertising to children under 12 and we encourage other food and beverage companies to join our efforts to change the landscape of children’s advertising.”
 
As part of the pledge—which will be fully implemented by January 1, 2009—The Dannon Company intends to feature only products that meet its nutritional guidelines in all advertising directed primarily to children under 12. The Dannon Company guidelines are based on the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, FDA and World Health Organization standards as they pertain to fat, trans fat, saturated fat and sugar.

“The Dannon Company pledges to devote 100 percent of television, radio, print and internet advertising primarily directed to children under 12 to products that represent healthier dietary choices,” said Juan Carlos Dalto, President and CEO of The Dannon Company.  “As an additional extension and expression of our commitment to health and wellness, Dannon is pleased to join The Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI). The CFBAI has emerged as a leader in the United States in marshalling the most forward-thinking food and beverage companies, and our participation is consistent with the mission of The Dannon Company, that every day our family of great-tasting, unique, cultured fresh dairy products will proactively enrich the health and well-being of our consumers, and this of course includes children.”

The Dannon Company’s nutritional guidelines include the following requirements per labeled serving for foods advertised to children under 12:

• No more than 30 percent of calories may come from fat for products labeled for children two to three, and no more than 25 percent of calories from fat for products for children four to 12;
• Saturated fat must be less than 10 percent of calories or may not exceed 1 g;
• Sodium may not exceed 230 mg;
• Added sugars may not exceed 12.5 g; and,
• Contain at least 10 percent of the Daily Value for Calcium

• Restrict the use of third-party licensed characters in advertising primarily directed to children under 12 to products meeting its nutrition criteria;
• Refrain from advertising food and beverages in elementary schools;
• Not pay for, or seek out, product placement in media primarily directed to children under 12; and,
• Limit the use of food and beverages shown in interactive games primarily directed to children under 12 to products that meet its nutrition criteria.