SpongeBob not for junk food labels

Viacom Inc.’s Nickelodeon cable network plans to stop allowing the use of its characters for packaging on junk food to address concerns about children’s health.

“The use of our licensed characters on food packaging will be limited to products that meet ‘better for you’ criteria as established by marketing partners in accordance with governmental dietary guidelines,” Nickelodeon President Cyma Zarghami wrote in a letter to Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.).

Nickelodeon’s characters include SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and Rugrats.

Markey, chairman of the House subcommittee on telecommunications and the Internet, commended Zarghami in a statement: “Nickelodeon recognizes its responsibility to the child audience and the importance of taking steps to combat the childhood obesity epidemic.”