GOP pushes back on effort to limit kids’ food ads

WASHINGTON — House Repub­li­cans are sid­ing with food com­pa­nies resist­ing the Obama administration’s efforts to pres­sure them to stop adver­tis­ing junk food for chil­dren. Some food com­pa­nies say the gov­ern­ment is going too far with guide­lines pro­posed ear­lier this year by sev­eral gov­ern­ment agen­cies. The vol­un­tary guide­lines would attempt to shield chil­dren from ads for sug­ary and fatty foods — think col­or­ful char­ac­ters on cereal boxes — on tele­vi­sion, in stores and on the Inter­net. Com­pa­nies would be urged to mar­ket foods to chil­dren ages 2 through 17 only if they con­tain spe­cific healthy ingre­di­ents and are low in fats, sug­ars and sodium.