Healthy Skepticism Library item: 11600

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Moynihan R.
Healthcare giant advertises to children in classrooms
BMJ 2007 Sep 29; 335:(7621):637
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/335/7621/637-b?etoc

Abstract:

The multinational drug and medical device manufacturer Johnson & Johnson has been advertising its products in a resource book used by children in Australian classrooms.

The book, BodyWhys, is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and contains several advertisements for Johnson & Johnson products, including tampons, sanitary pads, toothbrushes, and pimple cream.

Along with the advertisements, BodyWhys, which was recently distributed to 10 year old children in a state school in Sydney’s wealthy eastern suburbs, contains text about personal development.

Johnson & Johnson says it has been sending copies of the book to schools on request for several years. This year more than 130 private and public schools across Australia have received copies.

Johnson & Johnson, which began life as a producer of surgical dressings in the 1880s, now boasts annual sales of $53bn (£26bn; 38bn) and profits of $11bn. Controlling more than 250 operating companies, it now . . .