by Orion Jones, Big Think

Savvy marketing strategies currently employed by quick service restaurants suggest the fast food industry is taking a page from Big Tobacco’s playbook, according to a new study of television commercials produced by McDonalds and Burger King. The study observes specific tactics used to attract children to their products including advertising on children’s television networks, displaying mascots and toys in children’s commercials, as well as including more cross-promotions that plug products like children’s movies. “Over a year, the researchers found that these ads were distributed over 81,272 placements on national television.”