Posted on 08/15/2011 2:58:42 PM PDT by Hunton Peck
CHICAGO (AP) — The nation's two largest hot dog makers took their legal beefs on Monday to federal court, where a judge will determine whether Oscar Mayer or Ball Park franks broke false-advertising laws in their efforts to become top dog.
As the bench trial got under way, U.S. Magistrate Judge Morton Denlow cast his eyes across the Chicago courtroom, where half a dozen attorneys were at opposing tables, and said, "Let the wiener wars begin."
The battle pits Chicago-area companies Sara Lee Corp., which makes Ball Park franks, against Kraft Foods Inc., which makes Oscar Mayer, in a case that could clarify how far companies can go when boasting that their product is better than a competitor's.
Despite the light-hearted remark by the judge, attorneys for the food makers struck a serious tone.
"There's never been anything of this scope . . . in the entire history of hot dogs," said Sara Lee's attorney, Richard Leighton, about what he described as Kraft's false and deceptive ad claims about making a better-tasting frank.
Sara Lee had fired the first volley in a 2009 lawsuit singling out Oscar Mayer ads that brag its dogs beat Ball Park franks in a national taste test. Leighton argued the tests were deeply flawed, including by serving the hot dogs to participants without buns or condiments.
"They were served boiled hot dogs on a white paper plate," he complained. He added that Sara Lee's hot dogs may well have tasted too salty or smoky eaten sans buns.
Kraft filed its own lawsuit in 2009, alleging that Sara Lee ran false and deceptive ads including a campaign in which Ball Parks are heralded as "America's Best Franks." The ad further asserts that other hot dogs "aren't even in the same league."
(Excerpt) Read more at centurylink.net ...
(I did NOT just say that.)
I’d much rather have a Nathans or the old Maple Leaf brand before I’d ever choke down a Ball Park or an OM frank.
Nathan’s and Hebrew National, meanwhile, are laughing their arsess off...
Nathan’s Famous Natural Casing weiners are the best!
IMHO of course.
My favorite is Nathan’s too but I haven’t seen them on sale or in any way reduced for at least a year. For some odd but fortunate reason, my Daughter likes the 99 cents ones best.
The best tasting ones are the ones on sale. :)
Chicago Ball Park frank.
Can the jury come back with “you both suck”? I hope so, I won’t eat either brand, they’re really crap.
I prefer a Korean brand (unpronounceable name) weiners available at a local Korean supermarket Koreatown, which are made from actual dogs.
... and the weiner is ....
... and the weiner is ....
I think so too.I wasn’t that impressed with Nathan’s for the price and I’ve yet to see hebrew National’s anywhere around here to try them..I can get OM on sale often and we like them.
I agree with you. I think Oscar Meyer must have changed and for the worse. I used to like them but now can hardly stand to eat one.
The Oscar Meyer Angus are really good!
You sir, are an asset to the Free Republic community. That was hilarious.
“I prefer a Korean brand...made from actual dogs.”
Figures, cat!
But, NOBODY doesn’t like Sara Lee....
For beef ones, I prefer Nathan’s, cuz they’re spicier and HN have a kind of mushy texture.
For pork ones there’s a brand made in Duluth, MN, and not widely available, even around here, called Elliot’s, whose natural casing ones (not the ones made with chicken) are great.
(For anyone looking at my tagline and home page, Johnsonville, as far I know, doesn’t make any plain ol’ weenies, but if they did, they’d be as awesome as all their other products!)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.