Disney bans junk-food ads on kid programs

June 13—The Walt Disney Co. has acknowledged the powerful role that television can play in influencing children's behavior by announcing that it has instituted a junk-food advertising ban on programs for kids.

Along with its current healthful-foods initiative in its theme parks, Disney will begin imposing strict new standards for food and beverage advertising on its boy-centric network Disney XD, during Saturday morning shows on Disney-owned ABC television stations, on Radio Disney and online.