Posted on 01/19/2006 4:10:03 AM PST by SheLion
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A consumer group wants to keep Tony the Tiger from promoting sugary cereals on the SpongeBob SquarePants cartoon show or anywhere else kids are watching.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest said on Wednesday it would sue Kellogg Co., the maker of cereals such as Frosted Flakes, and Viacom Inc., which runs the Nickelodeon cable network, if the companies do not change some marketing practices aimed at children.
The Center said letters had been sent to Kellogg and Viacom saying it would settle for a commitment from the companies within 30 days rather than sue.
But, the Center added, if its demands were not met, a lawsuit would be filed asking a Massachusetts court to stop the companies from marketing junk foods in venues where 15 percent or more of the audience is under age 8, and to stop promoting junk foods through Web sites, toy giveaways, contests and other techniques aimed at that age group.
"The industry has had decades to clean up its act, but instead it has only intensified its marketing," the Center's executive director, Michael Jacobson, said at a news conference, where he displayed crackers, cookies and other snacks dotted with television characters.
The proposed lawsuit would mark the latest attempt to battle the growing obesity crisis in the United States through the courts. The would be plaintiffs, including the Center, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and two parents, assert Kellogg and Viacom could be forced to pay billions of dollars in damages if found liable in a trial.
A widely watched lawsuit filed in 2002 accused fast food leader McDonald's Corp. of using misleading advertising to lure children into eating unhealthy foods. McDonald's has called the lawsuit frivolous and parts of the case have been dismissed.
KEEPING KIDS AWAY FROM JUNK FOODS
If a suit were filed, it would contend that Kellogg and Nickelodeon are harming children since the overwhelming majority of food products marketed to them are high in sugar and fat.
"It's hard for a parent to compete with so many ads making junk food fun and cool," Sherri Carlson, a mother of three who would be a plaintiff in a lawsuit, told reporters. "Although I have a strict policy against junk cereals in my house ... this doesn't stop my children from asking me for them, especially after seeing enticing ads."
Nickelodeon said in a statement that it is "an acknowledged leader and positive force in educating and encouraging kids to live healthier lifestyles," and that it would continue to encourage advertisers to provide balanced marketing.
The company said it has also licensed its characters for "good-for-you" products, such as a deal that has SpongeBob characters on packages of Grimmway carrots.
A Kellogg spokeswoman said the company just learned about the proposed action, but would "continue to educate and inform consumers of all ages about the importance of both balanced nutrition and physical activity in maintaining a healthy lifestyle."
The Center said that, of 168 ads for food that appeared on Nickelodeon during a review in the fall, 88 were for foods with poor nutritional quality. Nickelodeon characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants appeared on packages of Kellogg's Wild Bubble Berry Pop-Tarts, which the Center categorized as junk food.
The findings follow a study released last month that found ads influence the foods preferred by children, especially the very young.
The Center's Jacobson said his group was forced to threaten a suit because federal regulators and Congress would not enforce laws against deceptive or harmful marketing.
"The (Federal Trade Commission) and Congress have failed to protect families from commercial exploitation," he said.
The FTC's chairman, Deborah Majoras, has said she opposes the idea of imposing new regulations to ban or restrict children's food advertising and marketing.
Majoras has opposed the idea of imposing new regulations on the industry, instead urging more self-regulation and further efforts to educate parents and children about nutrition.
"If there is evidence of illegal deception in specific advertising, the FTC, the states' attorneys general, and the industry's self regulatory bodies can all take action," said Lee Peeler, deputy director of the agency's consumer protection bureau.
(With reporting by Kenneth Li in New York, Nichola Groom in Los Angeles, Susan Heavey in Washington and Jessica Wohl in Chicago)
The Center for Science in the Public Interest ...
Anytime you see the Center for Science in the Public Interest, or CSPI, in an article, send up a red flag. These folks are the whackos who rail against Mexican food, theater popcorn, French fries, etc.
When was the last time you saw a child at the checkout line in a grocery store? How many boxes of cereal was he/she buying? End of story. If there is a lawsuit against Kellogg, each and every parent/guardian should be brought in as third-party defendants...
I'd forgotten about the land deed! I had one, too!
It has to end. People are getting fed up with this interference into our lives!
My personal favorites were the SPACE PATROL stuff you could send for with box tops, though. I had the helmet, the gun, God knows what all. It was my favorite Saturday TV show when I was a kid.
At the end of the movie, the "king" freaked out and began running wildly-he came across some younger kids (10-12) playing, and gave them a bunch of shit about how he demanded respect because he was president. He then ran off (quite nuts by now). One of the young kids said to the others: "When we take over, we're gonna kill anybody over 18." Or something like that. Does that ring a bell? I'm only going on sheer memory from the stoned-out 60's here, as I never wanted to see it again as long as I lived. "Logan's Run", on the other hand, I thought was a good movie. At least it had an uplifting ending.
I remember it was sickening. How the teenagers strutted around like they were little gods. It was a mean spirited movie, that's for sure.
At the risk of dating myself, LOL! Yes! I remember. Baking soda and oh my gosh..............those shredded wheats. LOL
When was the last time you saw a child at the checkout line in a grocery store? How many boxes of cereal was he/she buying? End of story. If there is a lawsuit against Kellogg, each and every parent/guardian should be brought in as third-party defendants...
This is as ridiculous as a parent leaving their credit cards laying around so their teenagers can use them to order cigarettes off of the Net.
I'm not sure what black pudding is..but the rest of the breakfast sounds SO GOOD right now...I would need a nap afterwards, of course!!
This is fascism at the very least and I, for one, am getting sick and tired of these a$$holes.
At some point, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will realise that they are damaging their reputation by supporting these junk science causes.
You know, Robert Wood Johnson IV serves on the board of the foundation and he owns the Jets.
New York Jets
1000 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead, NY 11550
(516) 560-8100
Perhaps I'll send him a letter. I can't find an email addy, though.
I highly doubt they will ever change.....Johnson & Johnson makes far too much money on their products to let a change happen, and RWJF is funded almost solely through it's stock portfolio of, guess what stock?????, LOL!!!
RWJF promotes junk science against smoking, smokers and funds much of the push for smoking bans.......J&J makes smoking cessation products.
RWJF promotes junk science agaisnt alcohol and for lower BAC, they control MADD.....and I think J&J makes one the anti-abuse medications for alcholism.
RWJF supports and funds a lot of the junk science of PETA
RWJF is supporting a lawsuit against the sugar industry..........J&J makes splenda. I haven't figured out the financial connection yet for RWJF support of gun bans and seatbelt and helmet laws.....but I'm sure there is one out there somewhere
Got that right! I see armed rebellion in the near future if it doesn't stop. BTW -- bless you for having the stamina to live in Maine!
Oh boy. The weather has been unreal past couple of days. Lots of rain then snow and high winds. Shingles blowing off of roofs. It's a real mess. Blowing and drifting of snow and bitter cold. Crazy weather.
Ah! The Good Old Days!
That weather plus all of the lib/socialists -- that's a double-whammy! Again, God Bless You for putting up with both!
Well, what with the weather and the Demoncratic Governor, who I heard has collected more for his re-election funds then anyone else, totally makes me want to throw up. :(
How do we put together a consumer's group to sue this consumer's group for interfering with our free market choices????
I have no idea. That would be a huge undertaking. If you find out, let me know! I sure am sick and tired of nanny government.
I raised five kids and there was never a soda in the house---no cookies or chips either.Yep,I was a tough Mom.
When we went on vacation or at birthday parties they loved having soda and goodies as a treat.
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