Can You Spot the Apple in this Ad? Kids Miss the Point of Healthy Advertising

'Tomato,' 'tomato.' 'Potato,' 'potato.' But apple, French fry? Of course, the last one's not referencing Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. In all seriousness, it's demonstrating the confusion that many U.S. youngsters seem to have recognizing healthy choices. And for this study, in particular, recognizing healthy snacks in fast food advertising.

According to findings published by researchers from Darthmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center in New Hampshire, the study showed that children ages 3 to 7 viewed fast food commercials aired on children's cable television networks from July 2010 to June 2011.  Findings showed that only 10 percent of the children knew that apple slices in Burger King commercials were actually apples and not French fries. The Burger King apple slices were depicted inside an oval container that is typically used for French fries.

"Burger King's depiction of apple slices as 'Fresh Apple Fries' was misleading to children in the target age range," said study author Dr. James Sargent, co-director of the Cancer Control Research Program at Dartmouth College's Norris Cotton Cancer Center, via redorbit.com. "The advertisement would be deceptive by industry standards, yet their self-regulation bodies took no action to address the misleading depiction."

However, the study notes that of the four healthy food depictions examined by participants, only the McDonald's display of apple slices was acknowledged by a larger majority of the target audience. Thus, researchers believe that the other depictions were cases of poor communication via the companies.

Statistics show that obesity has more than doubled in U.S. children and quadrupled in adolescents within the past 30 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Health officials stress the importance of setting healthy guidelines for children early on in order to provide beneficial dietary practices that will help them and others make the right choices.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via JAMA Pediatrics.