Fast Food and Branding

Sugar, fat, and salt will continue to fuel the national debate on childhood nutrition, thanks to a study by T. Bettina Cornwell. In a study of preschoolers aged three to five, Cornwell and her coauthor, Anna McAlister, University of Wisconsin, found that children with higher awareness of fast food and soft drink brands tend to have developed a preference for sugar, salt, and fat. This study builds on the team's earlier work, which showed that preschool children recognize many common logos—even though they aren't yet able to read. The study, forthcoming in the journal Appetite, has already garnered significant national and regional media from The Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, and others. Read more.