Rep. Markey said, "Last September, I sent a letter to Nestlé expressing my concern about the role that food and beverage marketing targeting children plays in children's dietary choices. In response, Nestlé's CEO assured me that the company is committed to ‘responsible advertising;' however, it has failed to take steps to address America's child obesity epidemic.

"Today I again urge Nestlé to join with thirteen other major U.S. food companies and the Council of Better Business Bureaus' Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative. Since my last correspondence with Nestlé, the company has joined the Canadian CBBB's similar initiative.

"Clearly American children are no less worthy of socially responsible marketing practices than Canadian children. The Institute of Medicine has reported the link between the current trend of poor nutrition and childhood obesity to the prevalence of television advertisements for fast food, junk food, and other foods wholly lacking in nutritional value. Food companies have an important role to play in combating this dangerous health trend among our children, and I call upon Nestlé to join the American CBBB's Initiative just as it has in Canada," added Rep. Markey.

Rep. Markey's full letter to Nestlé is available HERE.

Nestlé's response to Rep. Markey's 2007 last letter urging the company to take action to combat childhood obesity is available HERE.