The American Obesity Association has asked the Food and Drug Administration to consider a proposal that would prohibit companies that heavily advertise foods of low nutritional value from taking a tax deduction for the cost of those ads. In a letter sent to FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan on Sept. 30th, the advocacy group argued that of the $7 billion spent on advertising food each year, most of the ads tout food of low nutritional value. “Food companies are able to heavily advertise to children and consumers through the deductibility of advertising expenses on their corporate income taxes,” the letter stated.

—Adweek.com, 10/15/03