Child eating melon

In the US, 48 different food companies including fresh produce giants Chiquita, Dole and Del Monte have been sent subpoenas by the Federal Trade Commission asking for more information on their marketing campaigns to children.

According to The Packer, the subpoenas were sent on 23 August, requesting nutritional data on the companies' products by 1 December, with the results to be used as part of a follow-up to a 2008 study on food industry marketing activities and expenditures with regards to children.

In its conclusion, the 2008 report saw the Commission recommend that groups marketing food or beverages to children 12 years or younger should adopt 'meaningful, nutrition-based standards for marketing their products'.

A Commission spokesperson told The Packer that the 48 companies chosen, which also included the likes of McDonald's, Kraft Foods and Coca Cola, had been the most frequent advertisers to children and adolescents.