MILWAUKEE — U.S. lawmakers met yesterday to discuss the growing epidemic of obesity in children and to examine the effects of companies marketing foods to children.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations in Washington listened to a discussion of representatives from Kraft Foods and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A representative from the CDC said that marketing to children must be done more responsibly as children are more open to advertising messages, and less knowledgeable about making healthy decisions than adults.

A representative from Kraft, Marc Firestone, said that Kraft, like many other companies is taking steps to practice responsible marketing to its child audience. For example, he said that his company only advertises to kids such foods as graham crackers which meet standard set for nutrition.

The Senate panel asked for a report in July to examine 44 companies and their advertising and marketing practice. The Federal Trade Commission reported that food companies in 2006 spent nearly $1.6 billion on marketing products to children.